Selwyn_Times: July 05, 2023

Wednesday July 5 2023 Selwyn Times
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
NEWS 13
50 YEARS OF
SERVICE: Ross Hutton
(far left) received his
own beer, ‘Grumpy’s
beer’, from Hororata
chief fire officer
Bruce Sayer. He
also received a gold
helmet from deputy
chief Michael Groters,
as well as the official
double gold star
award. PHOTOS:
JACKSON MEDIA
‘Grumpy’ honoured with own beer
• By Daniel Alvey
WHEN ROSS Hutton joined the
Hororata Volunteer Fire Brigade
in 1967, Keith Holyoake was
prime minister and schools had
just started teaching the decimal
currency system.
Now 56 years later, Ross, 79,
is still serving the same community
– and plans to for some
time yet.
Ross’s commitment to the brigade
was recently celebrated with
a double gold star presentation
for 50 years of service (taking
into account a few breaks).
“There have been many callouts
in that time, my first callout
was the Coalgate pub that burnt
to the ground,” Ross said.
Wife Diane recalled him
driving a bulldozer at the
200-hectare Burgess plantation
fire, near Dunsandel, in the
1980s – and not coming home
for a week.
For a decade, Ross also served
as chief of the brigade.
While almost all of his time
has been with the Hororata
brigade, on his holidays he
volunteers for the Luggate
Volunteer Fire Brigade, near
Wānaka.
Hororata chief fire officer
Bruce Sayer recalled his first
memories of Ross.
“He looked grumpy all the
time . . . he scared the shit out of
me,” Sayer joked.
But Sayer soon came to find
Ross had a humorous side, and
was a good mentor for young
recruits.
“When I became chief I saw a
different side of Ross.
“What I see now in Ross is that
he takes the younger recruits
under his wing.”
Also in attendance at
the ceremony was Fire and
Emergency NZ national
commander Russell Wood.
“Fifty years is a significant
milestone,” said Wood.
“We know our people give
their time, skill and passion to
serve their community.”
Along with the double gold
star award, the brigade also got
Ross a gold helmet and his own
beer, ‘Grumpy’s Beer’ – a beer
can with a photo of Ross and the
double gold star on it.
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