Bay Harbour: July 10, 2019

Wednesday July 10 2019
News
MISSED: Douglas James (Jim)
McArthur received a Gold Star in
1998 for 25 years service to the
Sumner Volunteer Fire Brigade.
• By Jess Gibson
AFTER 25 years, volunteer
firefighter Marty Stanley still
gets an adrenaline rush when the
sirens go off at the Governors Bay
station.
Since joining the Governors
Bay Volunteer Fire Brigade in
1994, Mr Stanley has responded
to a range of call-outs in
the community and across
Christchurch.
But he said his biggest feat “by
far” was the Port Hills fires in
2017, where he helped out for
more than a week.
Now the 60-year-old has been
recognised with a gold star pin,
which represents 25 years of
service to the brigade.
“It was a pretty awesome
feeling. The years have gone really
fast, that’s for sure,” Mr Stanley
said.
“Working for the brigade is
great and it has been an amazing
ride. There’s great camaraderie.”
Mt Stanley works full-time at
Saeco Wilson in Sydenham and
says he is fortunate to have a
supportive company that allows
him to attend the brigade’s
Sumner
Volunteer
Fire Brigade
chief officer
Daryl Sayer
remembers
retired chief
fire officer
Douglas James (Jim)
McArthur, who died on
July 1 aged 75
JIM FIRST joined the Sumner
fire brigade in 1967.
In 1983, Jim and his family
moved to Timaru for work,
but he rejoined the brigade
on their return in 1987 and
served another 13 years until
Firefighter honoured for 25 years of service
call-outs. About 75 people
attended the presentation of Mr
Stanley’s award at Allandale Hall,
including firefighters and their
families.
Presenting the pin was
Queen’s Service Medal-holder
Chris Price from the Ashburton
Volunteer Fire Brigade, who was
representing the United Fire
Brigades’ Association of NZ.
Fire chief Andrew Norris said
the highlight of the evening was
Mr Stanley’s award, as well as
the service awards for 15 other
members, including certificates
for three years and five years of
service.
The brigade was started in
1988 and Mr Stanley is the sixth
member to have received the
award in 31 years.
COMMENDED: Marty Stanley
stands beside a giant
version of the gold star he
wears on his formal uniform
to represent 25 years of
service to the Governors Bay
Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Remembering a veteran
of the Sumner brigade
his retirement in 2000. Jim was
made a life honorary member
of the brigade in 1985, but the
pinnacle of his service was
when he received his Gold Star
for 25 years service in 1998.
The function for this was held
at the Sumner RSA. I seem to
recall a night of rock and roll
and dancing.
Not all of Jim’s fire brigade
activity was within the Sumner
brigade.
He had active roles in both
the Canterbury Provincial Fire
Brigades Association and the
Mid-Canterbury Fire Brigades
Sub Association, serving as
president of each (at different
times) and being made a life
member of each. Jim has
remained a firm supporter of
these organisations, and of
the Sumner Volunteer Fire
Brigade. He was always a
regular attendee of AGMs and
social events.
Last month we had our
annual AGM, which celebrated
125 years of the brigade’s
existence.
To mark this historic
occasion, we had speakers
relate their experiences of the
Sumner brigade. We had the
treat of hearing Jim speak
about some of his experiences
in the brigade, which in
hindsight turned out to be
excellent timing.
BAY HARBOUR
Local
News
Now
PAGE 7
Fire rages, homes at risk
Bid to reduce
freedom
camping
at reserve
• By Jess Gibson
AN ATTEMPT is being made to
address freedom camping issues
in Diamond Harbour by changing
a popular app.
The Diamond Harbour
Residents Association expressed
concerns in May over freedom
campers littering and causing
parking congestion for other
vehicles at Stoddart Point Reserve.
The city council has now
requested an app providing
information about freedom
camping at the reserve change its
wording to help reduce the issues.
CamperMate is a popular
phone app referenced on the city
council’s “know where to camp”
brochure, which lists freedom
camping locations nationwide
and specifies guidelines for those
areas.
CamperMate currently refers
to the city council’s freedom
camping bylaw from 2015 for the
whole of Diamond Harbour.
It states that certified selfcontained
vehicles can park at any
city council-owned site, except
a prohibited area of Purau Bay,
for a maximum of two nights per
month.
The city council has asked
CamperMate to update its
guidelines specifically for
Stoddart Point Reserve to
say “certified self-contained
campervans can stay in this
parking area for up to two
nights in any 30-day period.
Proof of self-containment will
be required. Regular monitoring
and enforcement. Please take
all rubbish with you. Popular
parking area for visitors, and for
locals commuting by ferry.”
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