Queenstown Fire Brigade Secretary's Fight For Unpaid Volunteers Recognised

Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade secretary Katherine Lamont has been honoured with Fire and Emergency NZ’s special Judges Award for going above and beyond with her national firefighters’ petition seeking equal ACC rights for thousands of unpaid volunteer firefighters.

The petition gained more than 36,500 signatures and is currently before Parliament’s Select Committee.

The award was presented in Dunedin last night (6 November) as part of the FENZ Symbols of Excellence Awards.

A humble recipient, Lamont, began her battle earlier this year to get the same rights for unpaid volunteers as paid firefighters after being moved by former Kingston Fire Chief Pete Ottley’s plight. Ottley, who was chief for 13 years, has been unable to work after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following a fatal bus and car crash near Kingston in December.

“It could be any of our volunteer firefighters,” Lamont says. “It’s about what our volunteers give to our communities. They provide reassurance that should help be needed, it’s there. They are expected and required. That is really settling for the community,” she says. “It’s important to look after those who look after us. Current legislation doesn’t support volunteer firefighters to the level that’s required. The system falls short.”

She says the message she’s delivering has been heard by the Select Committee. “The question is not should it happen but how we can get this done.”

FENZ Otago District Commander Craig Geddes says the award is “significant recognition of Katherine’s campaign towards improving the wellbeing of all firefighters”. “She’s a reluctant hero and well worthy of the recognition,” he says. “This long-term strategy she’s putting in place will be for the benefit of all firefighters.”