New Year Honour 2021: QSM for Bruce Thompson's dedication to Ohakune community

Bruce Thompson has been a volunteer firefighter for 55 years. Photo / Supplied

Ohakune's Bruce Thompson was sitting around the dining room table with family when his phone buzzed with an email informing him he'd been awarded a Queen's Service Medal.

"I couldn't work out what the heck it said."

Thompson was awarded a QSM in the New Year Honours for his services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand, as well as the Ohakune community.

The former Ohakune deputy mayor has devoted his life to community, serving as a volunteer firefighter for 55 years, and spearheading fundraising projects that provided the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade with much of the equipment it still uses today.

Born in Raetihi, Thompson grew up in Ohakune, leaving school to run the family cinema business in 1954. In 1965 he joined the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade, where he's been ever since.

"I think I was 26 when I joined the brigade," Thompson said.

"I had friends in the brigade, and it was a good way to serve the town.

"As a volunteer brigade, we were all committed. We were on duty 24 hours a day. The only time you were on holiday is when you were out of town. Other than that I've answered every fire call since 1965 I suppose."

Thompson said these days he's "probably a bit past it", but he still serves the brigade as an operational support member, attending fire calls and assisting with duties while not directly firefighting. He said it's a good way to stay involved and stay social.

"I can keep myself well busy, and keep myself well occupied by filling in. I'm able to do things around the station and help out.

"I go down almost every day and have a look around and make sure things are clean. When you get to our age, what do you do with your time?"

As well as a long background in volunteer firefighting, Thompson also has significant experience in local body politics, serving on either council or community boards for most of the period between 1972 and 2009.

Back in 1972, a friend approached Thompson to run for what was then the Ohakune Borough Council in a byelection. Thompson said Ohakune was a struggling township at the time.

"All the mills closed down in the 60s, the government departments all left here, the railway closed down. The town was pretty grim.

"Then Turoa [skifield] was built and we had to develop the town. We sat down with the Turoa guys and they said we need 2000 beds by next year. At that point we only had 80 beds in the town."

Two years later he became deputy mayor, a role he held for 11 years until 1985.

Thompson said he was proud of what he achieved.

"It's one of these things, you get involved. I enjoyed my time with council.

"I did it to make sure we were recognised as a community, to keep a foot in the door sort of thing. These days we are a thriving little town."

Thompson said he was shocked when he was told he was a QSM recipient.

"I had no idea, and all sorts of things run through your mind. It feel quite honoured to be recognised. It really is special.

"To keep it private as they ask you to has been quite a job. The family uses the computer, so we've tried to keep that quiet - it was a bit of hard work, but it will be a nice surprise for them."