Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Bob Robertson was presented with a gold 50 years' service medal on Saturday night, ahead of the Queen's Service Medal he will receive at Government House next month.
More than 200 family, friends and past and present firefighters from Queenstown and Frankton brigades, as well as representatives from brigades in Arrowtown, Cromwell, Clyde, Luggate and Hawea, attended the ceremony, at the Queenstown Memorial Hall.
United Fire Brigades' Association (UFBA) president Lex Calder presented Mr Robertson with the prestigious medal and certificate.
Dame Margaret Bazley, chairwoman of the Fire Service Commission, awarded him a commemorative plaque.
Poppi-Mya Robertson (5) gave her grandmother, Fae Robertson (Mr Robertson's wife of 45 years), a bouquet of flowers.
Mr Robertson yesterday told the Queenstown Times he was "a bit overwhelmed" by the event and felt honoured the medal was presented by the UFBA president.
He thanked Queenstown Deputy Chief Fire Officer Terry O'Connell, Senior Firefighter Lyal McGregor and brigade secretary-treasurer Katherine Lamont for organising the function.
Mr Robertson said the 50-year service recognition had crept up on him.
"It's been a very good brigade to be in. When you're working with people who are very keen to be volunteers and give their service to the community for nothing and we all get along, it just seems to fly. It doesn't feel like 50 years."
Although he has helped to extinguish thousands of blazes over the decades, memories of the Closeburn fire, in November 2005, stay with him the most.
"That was, even to experienced firefighters, quite frightening. The wind and the speed that the fire was travelling, I'd seen nothing like it in my life and nobody else up there had either."
The enthusiasm for the job displayed by younger firefighters and the conviction that he still had a lot to offer were among the reasons why the chief fire officer of 23 years dismissed thoughts of retirement.
Mr Robertson, who celebrates his 70th birthday in late September, said there were about 60 callouts when he first started, in August 1959.
Today, there were more like 300 annually.
"My first thought [when the alarm was raised] would always be 'I hope we've got enough [firefighters] for the first truck'.
I'd rather let a younger member go on any truck because they are so keen and for the good experience, as long as we have an officer or someone qualified to run the truck."
Mr Robertson paid tribute to the support of Mrs Robertson, their three adult children and four grandchildren over the years.
He also treasured the camaraderie within the brigade: "They're doing a magnificent job by protecting the community," he said.
