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Marlborough Kaikoura Fire and Emergency Bulletin
A timely reminder now winter is starting to set in to remind ourselves to drive to the conditions.
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Fire in our landscape. Everyone's Responsibility
Here you will find information on your Marlborough Kaikoura Fire and Emergency authority and how to protect yourself, your family; your neighbours and your business from the threat of rural wildfire
Ian Montgomery - Good As Gold Award Date Posted: Mar 15, 2019
Veteran fire force controller for Okiwi Bay in Marlborough Sounds wins $10k for a well-earned holiday
A man who's been leading the rural fire brigade in a tiny Marlborough Sounds village for over a quarter of a century, and has his pager on 24/7, can take a well-earned holiday after being awarded $10,000 for his service to his community.
Ian "Monty" Montgomery of Okiwi Bay is this week's winner of the ASB Good As Gold award on TVNZ1's Seven Sharp. Monty owns the local campground and runs the convenience store, but is also the man who helms both the volunteer fire and ambulance services in Okiwi Bay.
"He's pretty crucial to what's happened in the development of what's happening in this bay - the fire service, the ambulance service. I can't think of anyone I've personally ever met that I think is more deserving of this," said Mark Logan who nominated Monty for the award.
"His pager is on him 24 hours a day. Monty does everything. He's a Jack of all trades. He'll see a need and he'll just fill a gap." Chris Hayles, the area's deputy principal fire officer said Monty has been controller in the volunteer rural fire force at Okiwi Bay for about 26 years. "They do pretty much everything we need them to," he said, and that includes St John Ambulance services. "I think last Thursday was his first day out of the bay in 10-and-a-half weeks. Monty cancelled his holiday just in case he was needed for the Nelson fires as well," Mr Hayles said.
Monty said he was "pretty overwhelmed actually" when reporter Matty McLean choppered in to surprise him with the news he's the winner. Wife Pam said it was "well deserved". Monty enthused: "Singapore looks like it's gonna happen. That's absolutely marvelous." "I'm 72 now, so I'm starting to look forward to wanting to retire properly. And I will be taking a break."
The resulting video is online with a story here: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/veteran-emergency-services-leader-in-marlborough-sounds-village-wins-10k-well-earned-holiday?variant=tb_v_1
A community responsibility to the threat of rural fire
If you live or own property in a rural area or on the urban–rural interface, you are part of a community that has a responsibility to manage the risk of fires on your property.