The Paraparaumu Fire Brigade was
formed in June, 1948 at a meeting held in the local picture theatre. The
meeting was presided over by Harold Melville, (Chief Fire Officer) at Tawa
Flat. Rules and Constitution of the Tawa Fire Brigade were adopted to enable
Paraparaumu to register with the United Fire Brigade Association which is
responsible for all Volunteer Brigades. Mr A Phillips was appointed Chief Fire
Officer and with the 20 other persons attending the meeting, became foundation
Members of the Paraparaumu Fire Brigade.
In 1948 the Hutt County Council which was the governing body then, purchased a
site at 8 Kapiti Road.
In December 1948, an ex-army 4x4 tanker with 100-gallon water capacity was
purchased as the first fire appliances. It was housed at various members
residences because a Fire Station had not yet been built.
Three years later a 20ft by 12ft asbestos Fire Station was built on the site
together with a hose tower constructed by Mr E Hand - a local garage proprietor
and mechanic. The siren was donated by Mr D Moult. It was mounted on top of the
hose tower. This siren had been purchased from Auckland City Council where it
was "at the ready" to be used as an air raid siren during the
war.
During this period a new Ford V8 fire engine with 400-gallon carrying capacity
was purchased.
In 1958 a 400-gallon ex-army tanker was purchased to supplement the Ford V8 and
in 1962 the tanker was replaced with a new Morris Tanker also carrying 400
gallons of water. A Commer Karrier Fire engine was purchased although later it
was removed to Wellington.
1969 saw the County Council supply a Ford Tanker, which carried 800 gallons of
water. By 1975 the district was being reticulated for water and by 1984
operation completed, so there were no further water problems.
AWARD WINNING NEW STATION
- 2009 was a very big year for the Brigade with a new station being built by
Armstrong Downes Limited of Lower Hutt at 22 Te Roto Drive and opening on 21
February. Mid - year saw the new station the category winner and also a Gold
Award winner in the Wellington Registered Master Builders Association 2009
Commercial Project Awards, Industrial and Infrastructure Project. Late 2009 the
station was chosen as the National Winner, Industrial and Infrastructure
Project in the Registered Master Builder 2009 Commercial Project Awards. The award recognizes the use of smart and
sustainable technology and building practices. Congratulations go to Armstrong
Downes Limited, their staff and sub-contractors for a job well done and also
the Fire Service Project team for their input to the design and etc..
In March 2009 Paraparaumu became a composite station with 24/7 crewing of the
PRT - PARA377 by 16 paid staff on the normal watch system while retaining
volunteers to man PARA371 and PARA3726.
Honours Board
Life Honorary Members:
|
Name |
Date |
|
|
GUIDO |
DEMENECH
* |
1973 |
|
BILL |
BRAZIER
QFSM |
1979 |
|
BOB |
BINNS
* |
1979 |
|
ANGELO |
DEMENECH |
1979 |
|
BARRY |
DEANS
* |
1982 |
|
JIMMY |
ROSEMAN |
1982 |
|
BILL |
CRANSON
QSM JP |
1982 |
|
JACK |
THOMPSON |
1982 |
|
WES |
DICKSON |
1985 |
|
TED |
MELLISH
* |
1985 |
|
GEORGE |
HOLT |
1985 |
|
ROB |
SULLIVAN |
1985 |
|
NAT |
BUICK
* |
1986 |
|
SELLY |
HYDE |
1986 |
|
TREVOR |
MOORE |
1987 |
|
JOHN |
HICKEY |
1987 |
|
GARY |
JOHNSTONE |
1988 |
|
ALAN |
WATT |
1988 |
|
ROSS |
WRIGHT |
1988 |
|
PAUL |
LYALL |
1991 |
|
BILL |
WHITELAW |
1992 |
|
MICHAEL |
GOODWIN |
1995 |
|
ROBIN |
WATT |
1995 |
|
WAYNE |
SARJEANT
QSM |
2002 |
|
IAN |
ALLEN |
2006 |
|
STEVE |
HOWCHOW |
2007 |
|
|
|
|
25 Year Gold Star
Recipients:
|
Name |
Date |
|
|
GUIDO |
DEMENECH
* |
1973 |
|
BILL |
BRAZIER
QFSM |
1979 |
|
BOB |
BINNS |
1979 |
|
BARRY |
DEANS
* |
1982 |
|
JIMMY |
ROSEMAN |
1982 |
|
WES |
DICKSON |
1985 |
|
TED |
MELLISH
* |
1985 |
|
JOHN |
HICKEY |
1987 |
|
ALAN |
WATT |
1988 |
|
ROSS |
WRIGHT |
1988 |
|
JACK |
THOMPSON |
1991 |
|
PAUL |
LYALL |
1991 |
|
BILL |
CRANSON
QSM JP |
1992 |
|
MICHAEL |
GOODWIN |
1995 |
|
NEIL |
BERRY |
2001 |
|
PETER |
MCEWAN |
2001 |
|
GORDON |
BARRATT |
2001 |
|
WAYNE |
SARJEANT
QSM |
2002 |
|
TREVOR |
MOSS |
2003 |
|
MARTY |
FOX |
2003 |
|
IAN |
ALLEN |
2006 |
|
BARRY |
DEANS
DOUBLE GOLD STAR * |
2007 |
|
PRESTON |
FENTON |
2007 |
|
TIM |
MORGAN |
2010 |
|
STEVE |
HUDSON |
2010 |
Officer in Charge:
|
Name |
Rank |
Dates |
|
|
ALAN |
DALES
* |
SUPERINTENDENT |
1948
– 1949 |
|
BILL |
BELL
* |
SUPERTNTENDENT |
1949
– 1950 |
|
GERRY |
MUDGWAY
* |
SUPERINTENDENT |
1950
– 1952 |
|
CURLEY |
BILTON |
SUPERINTENDENT |
1952
– 1954 |
|
BILL |
HERCOCK
* |
CHIEF |
1954
- 1957 |
|
LAURIE |
JAMIESON
* |
CHIEF |
1957
- 1961 |
|
BILL |
BRAZIER QFSM |
CHIEF |
1961 - 1994 |
|
WAYNE |
SARJEANT QSM |
CHIEF |
1994 - |
|
|
|
|
|
Brigade Secretary:
|
Name |
Dates |
|
|
KEITH |
WARD
* |
1948
– 1950 |
|
LAURIE |
JAMIESON
* |
1950
– 1957 |
|
KEITH |
WARD
* |
1957
– 1960 |
|
CURLEY |
BILTON |
1960
- 1962 |
|
RON |
COLES |
1962
- 1968 |
|
BILL |
CRANSON QSM JP |
1968 - 2007 |
|
IAN |
THOMSON |
2007 - |
Current Brigade
Executive:
|
|
Name |
|
|
Chief Fire Officer |
WAYNE |
SARJEANT QSM |
|
Deputy Chief |
TIM |
MORGAN |
|
Secretary |
IAN |
THOMSON |
|
Treasurer |
PETER |
TAYLOR |
|
|
|
|
|
Station Officers |
||
|
SSO |
TREVOR |
MOSS |
|
SO |
MARTIN |
SUTHERLAND |
|
DARREN |
VARCOE |
|
|
|
KEVIN |
SCHOFIELD |
|
|
CHARLIE |
HENLEY |
|
|
|
|
Brigade Roll:
There are 26 current serving members listed.
|
Name |
Rank |
Years |
|||
|
M |
ASHTON |
|
FF |
||
|
M |
BENNETT |
|
SFF |
||
|
G |
CROSBIE |
QFF |
|||
|
M |
FRASER |
|
QFF |
||
|
C |
HENLEY |
|
SO |
||
|
C |
HENLEY |
|
QFF |
||
|
T |
MORGAN |
|
DCFO |
||
|
T |
MOSS |
|
SSO |
||
|
M |
PRENDEVILLE |
|
FF |
||
|
G |
PRINSEN |
|
FF |
||
|
W |
SARJEANT |
QSM |
CFO |
||
|
K |
SCHOFIELD |
|
SO |
||
|
M |
SIMMONS |
|
QFF |
||
|
P |
SMITH |
|
QFF |
||
|
C |
STEVENSON |
QFF |
|||
|
G |
STOBBS |
QFF |
|||
|
R |
STRONG |
|
FP |
||
|
M |
SUTHERLAND |
|
SO |
||
|
P |
TAYLOR |
|
QFF |
||
|
I |
THOMSON |
|
FF |
||
|
B |
THORN |
|
QFF |
||
|
D |
VARCOE |
|
SO |
||
|
S |
WALKER |
|
FF |
||
|
A |
WHITE |
|
RFF |
||
|
D |
WESTLAKE |
|
SFF |
||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
Note: * = deceased
Photo History of the Brigade
Click on image to view it full size
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First Tanker for Paraparaumu |
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Paraparaumu 3726 - Fire Police |
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Paraparaumu 371 |
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Paraparaumu 377 |
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