The Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year. It’s an enviable record of 50 years of service to the Peninsula region and its community. The Brigade held an open day on Saturday 12th of April at the Hereweka Street Station to give the public an opportunity to see what they do and learn more about the organisation. With a range of displays on the history of the Fire Service, fire safety and the historic vehicles the open day was a popular event in Portobello. One of the most popular for the many children who were there was a ride in the vintage fire truck which was kept busy making a rowdy circuit around Portobello.
The Portobello Brigade have also produced a great Golden Jubilee book detailing the beginnings of the Brigade, its membership and the many events it has undertaken during its 50 years of service. Open day visitors were also able to see some of the newspaper articles and photographs taken over the years, which sparked many memories for visitors.
With a demonstration of car cutting equipment and techniques for putting out a fat fire the open day had something of interest for the many visitors who attended. The Otago Peninsula is very fortunate to have the men and women of the Volunteer Fire Brigade provide such invaluable service to our community. With responses to medical emergencies, fire, road crashes and search and rescue our community can be heartened to know that help and reassurance is close at hand in often difficult circumstances. So congratulations to the Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade and all of its volunteers on 5o years of service to our community, well done. (Click on the photographs to see in a full size viewer.)
