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QFSM Queens Fire Service Medal


Above: CFO L.V. Trass

In 1972, the late CFO L.V. Trass, was awarded the QFSM in the New Years Honours.

Above: CFO A.J. Easton

Again, in 1979, another member of the Levin Bri­gade was awarded the medal, the late CFO A.J. Easton. Both members had given outstanding service to the fire service and Levin community.

QCM

In 1990, the present CFO of Levin brigade, Mr B.D. Hassell, was awarded the Queens Commerative Med­al for service given to the New Zealand Fire Service.


Levin Volunteer Fire Police Corps 1954

Back row (I to r); Peter Nicol, Laurie. Jenson, Cyril Batten, Percival Curtis.
Front row (I to r): Gordon Beissel (Lieutenant), Martin Harvey (Captain), Jack Parsons (Sergeant-Secretary)


Finishing touches … ­From Page 12.

fire officer Mr B.D. Hassell.

The console in the new watchroom where fire calls come in is also more sophisticated. A Palmerston North Fire Service technician has helped in preparing the complex system and last problems are now being ironed out

The building has separate rooms for filing sytems, hose storage and repair, and storage and washing down of breathing apparatus.

While awaiting the com­pletion of the Stage II building, firemen will use kitchen facilities in an adjacent empty house.

Work on Stage II should begin late next week after the old building has been demolished. Contractor Mr Paul Tucker expects the second building will be completed in September.

INVOLVED

More than a dozen sub­contractors and about 40 workers have so far been involved in the fire station project.

It has provided jobs for up to 14 builders and carpenters since construc­tion began last September.

Site work such as put­ting in lawns and shrubs around the new building is the last remaining work on Stage I.

The new buildings are being built under a $500,000 contract. The commissioners, the New Zealand Fire Service ex­pect the final figure to be somewhat higher.


The fire police

The first meeting of the Levin Fire Police Corps was held on December 9, 1927.

The same evening they were invited to the Fire Board meeting, Mr F.G. Cray, chairman of the board, officiated at the swearing in ceremony.

The 12 men that had joined up were: Mr H. Walkley captain, W. Smaill secretary, W.G. Clark, A.H. McLean, J. Ingram, R. Tantrum, W.B. McIn­tosh, F. Pink, A. Dempsey, R. Henderson, W. Price and John Ince.

They held their meetings monthly and carried out their duties from 1927 un­til 1943 and then went into recess until after the war, as it was hard to get mem­bers.

The corps was re-formed again, mainly by the efforts of Mr H. Harvey senior, in 1951. Mr Har­vey's son Martin -Harvey was elected the new cap­tain.

Seven men joined the new corps: J. Parsons, M. Harvey, W. La Roche, R. Hunter, R. McKenzie senior, W. Dunn and G. Beissel.

Martin Harvey saw the corps go through many stages of progress but he resigned on March 23, 1963 as he was a borough councillor and found he could not carry on and do justice to the corps.

He was succeeded by Mr L.A. Jenson, as captain who retired from The Levin Volunteer Fire Police Corps on September 1, 1983, with a total ser­vice of 2 years.

Mr B.J. Stewart was elected to the position of Senior Station Officer of the fire police and still holds this position and has with him a strong mem­bership of fire police.

In 1966 when Mr L.V. Trass was the chief fire officer he tried very hard to get the fire police affili­ated with the United Fire Brigades Association.

The fire police corps formed its own association at a meeting in Wanganui in July 1970.

In 1974 Mr Trass was honoured to be elected the first Patron of the NZ Fire Police Association. He has attended three confer­ences since.

On September 1, 1983, the NZ Fire Police Asso­ciation was taken over by the United Fire Brigades Association and the rank structure changed.

The captain's rank was changed to Senior Station Officer and the Lieute­nant's rank changed to Sta­tion Officer.


Volunteer to permanent service

Over the years, many Levin Volunteer Fireman have made the fire service their career.

The high standard of training and the challenge of fire-fighting has seen these men join up in permanent brigades throughout New Zealand. (Levin fireman)

- (Permanent brigade)

John Salmons - Palmerston North
Graham Easton - Palmerston North
John Rose - Wellington
Gordon Barrett - Wellington
Neil Biessel - Wellington
Terry Baker - Hawkes Bay
Laurie Bell - Auckland
Kerry Smith - Hawkes Bay
Ray Fryer - Levin (Station keeper)
Doug Rose - Levin (Station keeper)
Neil Bilderbeck - Palmerston North
Graham McFarlane - Hawkes Bay
Michael Pinder - Palmerston North
Michael Knell - Wanganui
Phillip Fryer - Palmerston North
Bill Swan - Palmerston North
Noel Bignal - Palmerston North


Levin Fire Police - Fire Police Corps 1951

Capt M. Harvey; Lt. J. Par­sons; Sec F/P R. Hunter; F/ P W. Dunn; F/P G. Beissel; FIP W. LaRoche; F/P R. McKenzie: F/P S. Sharp.


Fire Police Conference

In 1980, the Levin Fire Police Corps and Fire Bri­gade were hosts to the NZ National conference with delegates attending the meetings from all parts of NZ.

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April 1992

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