Titirangi volunteer wins Student Volunteer Army Top Volunteer award

Titirangi Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Louie Miller has been awarded the Student Volunteer Army (SVA) Service Award’s Top Volunteer.

The 18-year-old completed 2,313 hours of volunteering, the most of any of the 18,0000 volunteers in the SVA. He logged most of his hours with Fire and Emergency New Zelaand at the Titirangi brigade.

“I really like helping people,” Louie says.

“I couldn’t see myself not working in an emergency service.”

The SVA Service Award is a nationally-recognised framework, designed to formally acknowledge youth volunteering. The five-level badge system celebrates the diverse acts of service students partake in. Students log hours in the SVA web app, building a Summary of Service to support applications for scholarships, leadership opportunities, tertiary education or employment.

Louie signed up to the programme to further his career prospects and document the skills he has gained along the way.

Titirangi Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Phillip Taylor says: “Since joining the brigade in September 2023, Louie has proven himself to be a valuable member of the team; respected by his peers with a positive, can-do attitude. It’s great that he has now been recognised with this award.”

While thrilled to receive the Top Volunteer award, Louie was also quick to recognise his fellow Fire and Emergency volunteers.

“One of my colleagues at the station has been volunteering for 19 years.

“The team there are so supportive and they train people so well.”

Louie Miller, left.