Appleby Volunteer Brigade celebrates their new station's official opening

Friends and family joined members of the Appleby Volunteer Fire Brigade on Saturday to celebrate the official opening of their new fire station.

This is the first time in its 33-year history that the Appleby Brigade has had a purpose-built facility. Its first base was the Tasman District Council’s forestry headquarters on Rabbit Island, before moving to a former pea shelling factory built in 1944 and known locally as “The Pea Viner”.

Fundraising enabled improvements to the building, but its location on a busy highway made access hazardous for the crew every time they responded to a call. Being inside an inundation zone was also problematic.

The new building on a more suitable site about 3km away was made possible by the generosity of brigade stalwarts Ted and Clare Ford, who donated the land. Ted Ford is a founder member of the Appleby Brigade, and Clare is a staunch supporter who was recognised with honorary life membership during Saturday’s ceremony.

The $1.57 million cost of the new building was financed from the Government’s COVID Recovery Fund, with Appleby Fire Station one of 11 stations in the South Island that have been paid for from that source.

Fire and Emergency Deputy Chief Executive Piki Thomas thanked the volunteers and their families. The brigade responds to road crashes, medical events and both vegetation and structure fires, and made a notable contribution to the long-running Pigeon Valley fire response in 2019. “Being a volunteer often means missing family events and having to leave work so you can respond to your community’s calls for help. I thank you for your mahi, and I thank your whanau and employers who enable you to do what you do.”

Check out the video here: https://vimeo.com/658242453/82b1d57a10(external link)

From Left GM Grant Haywood, Appleby Controller Paul Eggers, Te Ihu RM Paul Henderson, Deputy Controller Bella Clark, DCE Piki Thomas

 

Members of the Appleby Volunteer Fire Brigade with newly minted honorary life member Clare Ford

 

Land for the new station was donated by Ted and Bella Ford. They were invited to cut the celebratory cake at Saturday's opening.