Christmas party pumps up fire brigade funds

ON FIRE: Firefighters and the Havelock North Business Association manning the pumps during last night's association Christmas Party and volunteer fire brigade fundraiser. They are Senior Firefighter Chris Milne (left), business association event organiser Barb Beach, firefighter Kirk Hine and brigade operation support member Ross Boniface.PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

The good old Christmas Party took a promising new turn on Friday night as the Havelock North Business Association mixed its annual get-together with fundraising for the village's volunteer fire brigade.

About $4000 was raised, far exceeding the expectations of association president Sam Jackman, who conceded he hadn't really had any idea how generous everyone would be.

He reckoned all 270 members contributed, the pot including about $2000 in donations from members who couldn't get to the shindig at the fire station.

Villagers making their way home from work in Hastings were given plenty of warning as they passed signs along Havelock Rd, indicating which way prospective benefactors should go, and where the tighter-fisted might also go.

Most who headed into Karanema Dr near the station stopped to donate to the cause, with more than $2000 added to the pool.

Planning started about two months ago, and yesterday took several hours' organisation. About 100 association members were at the station, where Mr Jackman said: "We were extremely pleased."

He said the cause had "really appealed" to everyone, the members having all been sent what he called "a couple of tree-shaking emails" to get them into the giving mood.

"The volunteer fire brigades do an unbelievable job," he said, "and I really don't think they get the recognition they deserve.

"Everyone just expects them to turn up when there's a fire, or when a car rolls down a bank," he said. "These people get up in the middle of the night, they don't know when they'll get back, but they just go and do it."

The funds are expected to be used in various services provided by the brigade, including smoke alarm tests.

Last night's success - including the members gathering for a barbecue, pizza and some musical entertainment - meant there are no secrets about where the association's Christmas bash will be held next year. At the fire station, of course.

In the meantime the association has more pressing business, with a festival day planned in the village streets next Saturday.