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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1977
PRESENTATION OF FIRE BRIGADES LONG SERVICE MEDALS
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A TOTAL OF 182 FIREMEN AND AMBULANCEMEN, SOME OF THEM ALREADY RETIRED, TODAY (SATURDAY) RECEIVED THE COLONIAL FIRE BRIGARES LONG SERVICE MEDALS AND CLASPS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR. F.M. WATSON, AT THE HARBOUR ROAD FIRE STATION.
AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY MR. WATSON TOLD THE RECIPIENTS THAT THEY KNEW ONLY TOO WELL JUST WHAT IT HAD TAKEN TO EARN THESE AWARDS.
+ IT HAS MEANT LONG HOURS OF DUTY FOR MANY YEARS, LONG HOURS AWAY FROM FAMILIES AND OFTEN WORRYING ABOUT THEM IN TIMES OF CALAMITY, CONSTANT DEMANDS ON COURAGE, STRENGTH AND STAMINA DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO A DEGREE WHICH IS NOT MATCHED IN ANY OTHER OCCUPATION AND WHICH NO ONE OUTSIDE OF THE SERVICE CAN REALLY APPRECIATE, + HE SAID.
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT +WE IN THE SERVICE DO NOT SEEK APPRECIATION OR THANKS AND WE DID NOT JOIN THE SERVICE FOR THAT REASON. +
+ IT IS SUFFICIENTLY REWARDING AND SATISFYING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN SUCH A VITAL WAY AND TO ENJOY THE ESPRIT DE CORPS AND COMRADESHIP WHICH CAN ONLY EXIST IN SUCH A FINE SERVICE AS OURS WHERE FOR A LARGE PART OF OUR LIFE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY TOGETHER AND RELY SO MUCH ON EACH OTHER, SOMETIMES FOR OUR LIVES, + MR. WATSON ADDED.
AT TODAY'S PRESENTATION, 124 RECEIVED THE LONG SERVICE MEDALS IN RECOGNITION OF THE IR 18 YEARS OF SERVICE, 18 RECEIVED FIRST CLASPS TO THEIR MEDALS FOR THE IR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE AND 40 HAVING SERVED FOR OVER 30 YEARS RECEIVED THE SECOND CLASPS.
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