“Half of our current membership joined in the last eight years but we still have a combined service of 120 years among our firefighters. So plenty of it.”
It all started for the Manutuke volunteers after a tragic house fire at Manutuke in February 1956, where a family died.
“After that tragedy discussions began about the need for the Manutuke community to have its own fire brigade,” SSO Scragg said.
Under the direction of the Gisborne Fire Board the Manutuke Volunteer Fire Brigade was born.
“The first fire engine we used was purchased from the Lower Hutt Fire Board by the Gisborne Fire Board. It carried 400 gallons of water and was housed in a 30x40 foot shed — built by volunteer brigade members — on Whakato Road.”
Wind the clock forward 65 years and the fire station, now under Fire and Emergency New Zealand, still sits on the same site on Whakato Road.
“It continues to be manned by passionate volunteers from the Manutuke community.
“Now we have a 1997 fire appliance that holds a wide range of equipment to deal with today's many various situations,” SSO Scragg said.
In 1990, the then New Zealand Fire Service undertook the project of replacing the 1957 shed with a new building, complete with a 1979 V8 petrol international fire engine.
“By 1998 planning was well under way when then officer in charge and life member, Moana Paratene, worked alongside local resident Brian Scragg, Eastern Fire Region Commander Allen Proctor and the Manutuke brigade members to extend the building. That action ensured that for years to come it will serve as a resilient community asset supporting the Manutuke and Muriwai districts.”
Once again the brigade members and their volunteer labour, plus fundraising, got the job done.
“Everything has been chucked at the Manutuke district and the fire brigade over the last 65 years.
“We've had house fires, hotel fires, motor vehicle accidents, medical events, earthquakes, cyclones and, yes, cats up trees,” SSO Scragg said.
“We are grateful and fortunate that we have been supported by many volunteers from within our community that have given countless hours to serve and give back to their community and wider Tairāwhiti region.
“The Manutuke brigade has regularly been supported by their neighbouring brigades, Patutahi, Nuhaka and the Gisborne career staff, and for that we are grateful.”
The major callouts for the brigade over the years include the Muriwai Hotel fire in 1958.
“There was a good turn out by the Manutuke and Gisborne fire brigades but the hotel could not be saved,” SSO Scragg said.
In the July 1985 Gisborne floods Manutuke brigade played its part in evacuating residents from the Poverty Bay flats and aiding with clean up in the days that followed.
In the March 1988 Cyclone Bola event once again the brigade aided with evacuations of residents to the marae then aided with the community clean-up and silt clearing.
On January 2 1994 they were at the Morere Tavern Fire.
“Manutuke was the third arriving appliance, backing up Nuhaka and Wairoa.
“It was a typical warm summer day and the tavern was busy with lunch patrons. Sadly the tavern owner's pets lost their lives. Water was drafted and used from the Morere pools next door which were also busy at the time,” SSO Scragg said.
In September 1994 the brigade went to the Mahia/YMCA forest fire where they spent 24 hours on site and rostered volunteer staff to aid in fighting the fire, which involved helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
On May 9, 1997, they attended the Manutuke School fire.
“This was up there with one of the community's biggest tragedies.
“The front block, a 100-year-old building, was well involved in fire when the brigade were called. Flames were leaping over 20 metres in the early morning sky as we descended on the school,” SSO Scragg said.
“We could only access the front gate as the heat from the well-involved four classrooms, was too intense to get any closer.
“A fantastic effort was made by all crews on the ground that morning to protect the rear classroom block and contain what was already lost. Unfortunately, the front block contained the main office and all historic school photos in the hallway.”
On December 24, 2016, the brigade responded to the Tongan school music group bus accident in the Wharerata Ranges.
“We were joined by the Gisborne, Nuhaka and Wairoa fire brigades at this tragic event. All brigades chipped in with police and St John ambulance in a rescue that rolled into Xmas Day 2016. We aided with triage and extrication of patients. There have been so many calls for our help over the years and the ones mentioned just touch on a few.”
The current members of the Manutuke Brigade include — Senior Station Officer Karl Scragg, Station Officer Nathan Wallace, qualified firefighters David McGarva, FF Richard Ladd, Bal Riki, Rei Turner, Adam Maynard, Rob Graham, Gary Graham, firefighters Te Roma Newby, Te Aomihia Newby, Dan Waitai and Daryl Rean, and support personnel Liz Graham and Angela Rean.
Manutuke Volunteer Fire Brigade also recognises its long-serving life members — SSO/OIC Denis Willson (retired) 25 years, SO Malcolm Haskin (late) 25 years, SSO/OIC Karl Scragg (current) 30 years, SO Garry Sim (retired) 33 years, SSO/OIC Moana Paratene (late) 46 years, SFF William Edwards (retired) 50 years.
“Finally, we have three special groups of people to thank.
“Our families, for being there when we aren't and picking up the pieces when broken.
“Our employers for allowing our volunteers to commit precious time to our community, especially the self-employed volunteers.
“Our community — your support is equally important, because without you we don't exist.”
*If you wish to be part of the Manutuke crew, please do not hesitate to reach out via their Facebook page or stop in and see them at 7pm on Monday nights to see what it's all about.
“We have a varied range of volunteer roles that may suit you.”
