Latest news with #WestonVolunteerFireBrigade
Otago Daily Times
28-06-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Fire brigades brave cold at MND fundraiser
Firefighters (from left) Angelus Parker, of Kakanui brigade, Aydan Erickson of Weston brigade, Jase Dodds, of Waitaki brigade, Luke Skivington, of Kakanui brigade, Gemma Ludemann, of Waitaki brigade, and Richard Cranston, of Weston brigade, battle the cold during Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade's motor neurone disease fundraiser last week. PHOTO: NIC DUFF As if winter was not cold enough, Waitaki fire brigades decided to up the ante. Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade held an ice-bath challenge to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand last week. They filled up their portable dam with ice-water and challenged neighbouring brigades to see how long they could last. Event organiser Alice Perry said it was a great success. "It was just the right cause, the right challenge and something we could all get behind and get the brigades working together." A total of $268 was raised on the night, firefighters from Weston, Oamaru, Waitaki and Kakanui brigades all taking part. The event also attracted two members of the community who had a direct or indirect knowledge of the disease come along and watch. "To have two families there that are directly suffering from the disease made it even more worth it to have a direct connection to it right there and then to make it all real." Jase Dodds, of Waitaki Volunteer Fire Brigade, was the overall winner, lasting more than an hour in the ice bath. Ms Perry said the charity was well worth supporting because of "just how quickly this disease can rob someone of their quality of life and their life". "It's a horribly cruel disease that has a really short life span. "You typically only have two to three years, that's the prognosis." "It's not uncommon to know someone with it or who has lost their life to it. "One of my old friends through sled dog racing, unfortunately, has been recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease and it's hit him pretty rapidly in terms of deterioration." She hoped the event would be back bigger and better in 2026.
Otago Daily Times
12-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Firefighter calling time after 51 years
Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Bevan Koppert stepped down last month after 51 years with the brigade. PHOTO: SUPPLIED For the last 51 years Bevan Koppert has been a mainstay of the Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was one of four founding members that started the brigade back in 1974 and has now called time on his firefighting career. Mr Koppert stepped down as chief fire officer at the end of last month, a role he had held for nearly 40 years. "I'm bloody proud of what we've done," he said. "You've got to be. We serve the community. That was the main reason for [starting] it, serving the community and the surrounding districts. "I'll miss the comradeship. "I certainly won't miss getting out of bed in the early hours of the morning." He received his 50-year Service Medal last year. Mr Koppert was the last remaining founding member of the brigade. "When we started we had nothing, absolutely nothing. "We had a house fire and the fire engine had to come from Oamaru, which took a while. So, it was discussed then and we looked at whether it would be possible to have a fire brigade out here. It just grew from there. "We'd probably turned out to about 20-odd calls for the first 12 months. Last year, we did 137 calls." It took them 12 months to get the brigade started, which explains how he has 51 years of service despite the brigade only being 50 years old. Mr Koppert still recalled the brigade's first callout. "It was to a property on Argyle St where people had left a pot on the range and went to work. "It steamed up and people thought it was smoke, which you naturally would think." Fire and Emergency New Zealand Waitaki group manager Mike Harrison said Mr Koppert has been "the heart and soul" of the brigade since day one. The brigade's former station officer, Richard Cranston, has been appointed as the new chief fire officer.
Otago Daily Times
12-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Founding member calls time
Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Bevan Koppert stepped down last month after 51 years with the brigade. PHOTO: SUPPLIED For the last 51 years Bevan Koppert has been a mainstay of the Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was one of four founding members that started the brigade back in 1974 and has now called time on his firefighting career. Mr Koppert stepped down as chief fire officer at the end of last month, a role he had held for nearly 40 years. "I'm bloody proud of what we've done," he said. "You've got to be. We serve the community. That was the main reason for [starting] it, serving the community and the surrounding districts. "I'll miss the comradeship. "I certainly won't miss getting out of bed in the early hours of the morning." He received his 50-year Service Medal last year. Mr Koppert was the last remaining founding member of the brigade. "When we started we had nothing, absolutely nothing. "We had a house fire and the fire engine had to come from Oamaru, which took a while. So, it was discussed then and we looked at whether it would be possible to have a fire brigade out here. It just grew from there. "We'd probably turned out to about 20-odd calls for the first 12 months. Last year, we did 137 calls." It took them 12 months to get the brigade started, which explains how he has 51 years of service despite the brigade only being 50 years old. Mr Koppert still recalled the brigade's first callout. "It was to a property on Argyle St where people had left a pot on the range and went to work. "It steamed up and people thought it was smoke, which you naturally would think." Fire and Emergency New Zealand Waitaki group manager Mike Harrison said Mr Koppert has been "the heart and soul" of the brigade since day one. The brigade's former station officer, Richard Cranston, has been appointed as the new chief fire officer.
