Firefighting's finest lends talent to school

SOCKING IT: Tony Scott dons his red socks at Springbank School in Kerikeri. PHOTO/SANDY MYHRE

Anyone who believes men can't multi-task hasn't seen firefighter Tony Scott.

He mentors other firefighters, was the country's highest individual fundraiser for the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Foundation in the recent Sky Tower Challenge, is involved in numerous community projects and was recently awarded a Queen's Service Medal for his efforts.

He is also one of the Dream Team for the Sir Peter Blake Trust. The 350-strong team is tasked with speaking in schools throughout New Zealand about aspiration and motivation, and Mr Scott recently spoke to senior students at Kerikeri's Springbank School.

Mr Scott is also an accomplished cartoonist. He's been "doodling" for years and it was his highest mark in what was then a School Certificate exam.

"I can't tell a joke," he says seriously. "But I can draw one."

And he can teach. At the instigation of Springbank's Middle School deputy principal, Michelle Chapman, he's been helping with art classes, giving pupils an insight into the techniques required for cartoon drawing.

He may put his cartoons up for auction in the future and donate the money to his considerable charity interests.