Long-serving Edendale Volunteer Fire Brigade officer Scott Cameron received a Community Service Award at a presentation ceremony on Friday night (3 June).

The award, from Southland District Council and the Waihopai Toetoe Community Board, was recognition of Mr Cameron’s nearly 29 years of service to the community since he joined the brigade in 1993 while still a schoolboy.

Southland District Mayor Gray Tong presented the award to Mr Cameron, following speeches by current chief fire officer Brent Shepherd, Fire and Emergency New Zealand group manager Scott Lindsay, and Waihopai Toetoe ward councillor Paul Duffy.

Southland District Mayor Gary Tong presents a community service award to Mr Cameron and flowers to his wife Lisa. Photo: Supplied

Mr Cameron served as the chief fire officer of the Edendale brigade for nearly 10 years before being appointed recently to a fulltime role with Fire and Emergency New Zealand as a fire risk management officer, based in Invercargill.

He was station officer and deputy chief before being promoted to chief fire officer in 2012, at the same time holding various positions on the brigade committee.

Mr Cameron is a fully trained medical first responder and an experienced member of the Edendale fire brigade’s medical first response team. The team provides emergency medical support to Edendale, Wyndham and surrounding districts.

Mr Cameron’s citation reads: “As chief fire officer, Scott has voluntarily given many hours of his time not only in supporting our community in times of need, but in organising, preparedness, and tactical planning to ensure Edendale and surrounding communities are protected by a first-rate volunteer fire brigade, which also protects industries such as Fonterra Edendale and Blue Sky Pastures.”

The Edendale brigade attends an annual average of 175 emergency callouts, approximately 80% of which are medical and accident related.

Mr Cameron thanked his wife Lisa and children Tyler, Liam and Myah, for their support during his long tenure as a volunteer firefighter.