Brigade make Eileen honorary life member

Eileen Thawley has given 30 years of service and dedication to the Māpua Volunteer Fire Brigade and wider community, prompting the call to make her an honorary life member at its recent honours’ night.

In the past 30 years, Eileen Thawley has missed few training or meeting nights, and in her mid-80s she still cleans the station each week.

At the honours’ night, she also won the attendance award which is given to the brigade member who achieves the highest attendance to trainings in the past year.

Eileen admits the life membership took both herself and her husband Graeme by surprise. A life membership is decided by the brigade and is not a given, which made it particularly special, she says.

“I had never dreamt I would be eligible for this. Graeme and I were really overwhelmed, but so proud to be part of our special team at Mapua.”

Last year she was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for Services to Fire and Emergency and the community, while this year, the brigade paid tribute to her dedication which began back in the 1990s. Back then, the former orchardists got involved to support two young employees who joined the brigade.

That led to Graeme fundraising for the brigade by selling firewood to buy new gear, which was not always funded at the time.

The first job Eileen was given as a volunteer was sorting photos from the brigade’s history and organising the member’s service board that hangs on the station wall.

She went on to take the photos at callouts and for years carried out road-control duties. For the past 30 years, she has also been making sure the station is clean and tidy and still enjoys getting out in the community on the home fire-safety visits.

Though she says she “can’t do much now, but do what I can do”, her great-nephew Aaron Thawley, who is chief fire officer, says otherwise.

“Eileen does more than she lets on – it just isn’t seen on the front line. She still comes down every week and cleans the station and turns out to every callout to shut the doors, take the keys out of the cars if we’re away for extended periods. She also writes up the training and attendance log.

“That’s why she got the life membership, because we thought it was about time we recognised her service and showed our appreciation.”

Eileen says her commitment has been about community and the importance of the volunteer fire brigade. “It’s terribly important. We couldn’t be without them. They do a grand job – all the brigades do, and this one is special to us.

“There’s so much camaraderie – it’s just like a big extended family. It’s great companionship.”

She says the life membership is a “real honour” and thanks present and former chief fire officers for the part they played.