Doing what he enjoys

RGP 29May14 - 270514wert DOING WHAT HE DOES: Michael Bridge says he s not a hero. PHOTO / KATEE SHANKS

Whakatane's Michael Bridge is pretty sure he knows who nominated him for the Pride of New Zealand Awards.

And while he says he chuffed about the nomination, Mr Bridge remains adamant he doesn't do anything exceptional, he just does what he enjoys.

"I believe it may have been a young nephew which is awesome but I'm not really brave or heroic," he laughed.

However, the life he has lead to date would be intriguing to many youngsters.
In April 1988 Mr Bridge enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as an Avionics Technician. From June to December 1997 he was attached as a radio technician to United Nations Special Commission Office in Baghdad where he worked with a group that monitored sites where weapons of mass destruction had been manufactured in and around Baghdad.

Mr Bridge left the Air Force in 1999 and, after his parents shifted to Tauranga, he decided to make Whakatane home.

"I love anything outdoors, diving, hunting, so Whakatane was a logical move." In 2008 he joined WERT and in 2010 joined Rural Fire.

As a member of these two groups he has attended various rural fires and rope rescues in and around Whakatane and assisted residents in Whakatane after severe floods in 2010 and 2012. He was also part of team that assisted with the removal of a body from a property in Ohope after a land slide engulfed a property.

Mr Bridge also spent 10 days in Christchurch working as part of an urban search and rescue team deployed out of Whakatane to assist after the 2011 earthquakes. "There's a really good bunch of girls and guys in both these volunteer groups and I will admit I love the rope work, abseiling is a bit of a passion," Mr Bridge said.

"It's easy to do what I do when I love doing it."

Anyone can nominate people they feel are unsung heroes working hard to make a difference within their community. The awards are being held in association with the Whakatane News, The New Zealand Herald, The Hits radio station and TSB Bank.

The six categories honour bravery and heroism, community spirit, environmental leaders, emergency heroes and fundraisers. A special lifetime achievement award will be given as well as the TSB Bank People's Choice Award.

For more information on the Pride of New Zealand Awards visit the official website.