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14serviceserviceserviceKaponga and Waipukurau100 years inTimes have changed at Kaponga since thelate 1960s when the brigade only had twocoats and two helmets. And it’s a whole lotdifferent since 1912 when the brigade firstformed.Centennial celebrations over Waitangiweekend marked massive changes in the fireservice, but CFO Jason Hurley pointed outthat the core function had never changed,although the emphasis had, with MVAsequalling fire callouts.The Hawera & Normanby Star observed on29 November, 1912, that the brigade hadnot been able to get in any actual practiceyet, owing to the difficulty experiencein purchasing certainnecessary portions of thematerial required. Thenewspaper also reportedthat in 1924 the brigade didnot have a single callout.These humble beginningssaw their limited gearhoused in a small shedbefore a purpose-builtstation was established afew metres down the roadin 1946. Their presentstation was built in 1960.Former CFO Peter Noonan(1969 to 1987) said back then they lackedthe quality and abundance of equipmentavailable to current firefighters. A lot offirefighters provided their own gear. He saidfundraising was as much a staple as trainingfor firefighters and that would never change.The local newspaper reported on 19July, 1913, that the fire brigade bazaar“which opened so auspiciously onThursday afternoon, has amply justified allexpectations,” and raised about £70 for thatnight.The bazaar was again crowded the followingnight with a minstrel troupe being a majorattraction and on the Saturday, the round themountain cycle race would feature.Kaponga cooling down a dairy farm 4500 litre diesel tankafter putting out the inital fire. Photo – Stuff.Another former CFO, Bruce Evans, saidrecruiting methods had survived the test oftime – most joined after an emergency oftheir own, unless it was a family tradition.Despite the early morning callouts, andstrains put on family and employers all threechiefs would not hesitate to do it all again.Big crowd atWaipukurauOver 180 people gathered to markWaipukurau’s recent centennial with CFOGary Weaver noting the celebrations werenot just for the brigade, but for the entireWaipukurau community.Advancements in the structure of theservice, technology and equipment hasmade the job of fighting fires easier but noless dangerous, he observed. The brigadewas known as the cotton reel brigade backthen because it used a hand cart hose reelthat looked much like one, he said.“In those early years, the brigade was luckyto attend five fires a year but now, weaverage about 160 call-outs.” He attributesthis to people being careless and housesthat are better insulated now and retainedheat.During the past 100 years, about 200volunteers have gone through the brigadewith varying lengths of service from onemonth to more than 50 years. There havebeen 14 different appliances and one ofthese, a Ford V8, has been retained and is