Stoic Kiwi Firefighters Nominated for Aussie Mateship Award

Kiwi firefighters who helped Australia fight fierce bushfires that ravaged parts of Victoria just before Christmas have been nominated for this year’s Spirit of Mateship Awards, as part of G’Day NZ Australia Week 2007.

The awards, which will be presented at a glittering black-tie gala dinner in Auckland on Tuesday April 24 on the eve of ANZAC Day, were established last year by Tourism Australia to honour selfless Kiwis and Aussies whose actions epitomise the depth of friendship between our two countries.

Five firefighters, who come from Wellington, Taupo and Helensville, have been nominated to represent the 112 Kiwi firefighters who were deployed to Victoria late last year.

Two of the five, 48-year-old John Tupara from Taupo and 45-year-old Nick McCabe from Nelson, were among three of the 112 Kiwis who were injured in the line of duty.

The three other Kiwi firefighters nominated for the Spirit of Mateship Awards are 54-year-old Ian Millman of Wellington, 39-year-old Angie Rodger from Lower Hutt and 46-year-old Rob Clarke from Helensville near Auckland.

Murray Dudfield, the National Rural Fire Officer of the National Rural Fire Authority, stressed that the five nominated firefighters did not want to be treated as heroes.

“They feel truly humbled to represent their colleagues,” said Dudfield.

The 112 firefighters were away from worried family members and loved ones for a fortnight while they helped battle the wildfires which ravaged thousands of hectares of land, razed forests and threatened small towns in Victoria, Australia.

Nick McCabe, who works as a Nelson forestry contractor, said he was overwhelmed to represent his fellow firefighters in the award nominations. He said that, personally, fighting the fires alongside the Australians had changed his attitude to life.

“In the circumstances I found myself in, I found the bond between Kiwis and Aussies was extremely close, as close as any family. My experience has changed me as I have seen some of the kindest acts,” said McCabe.

John Tupara, who was admitted to hospital in Melbourne after suffering burns to his face, was also honoured to represent the 112 firefighters in the award nominations.

“The true spirit of mateship between our two countries was exemplified by the ANZACs. This close and unique comradeship continues today with the support and help New Zealand and Australia give each other.”

Five firefighters from Australia have also been nominated for the Spirit of Mateship awards which are being held during G’Day NZ Australia week from Monday April 23 to Sunday April 29.

Tourism Australia presented the inaugural Spirit of Mateship Award last year to Aussie Mark Smith and Kiwi Steve Freeman who survived after being adrift in the South China Sea for 11 days in December 2005. In an emotional reunion, the pair met up again at the awards ceremony for the first time since their ordeal.

G’Day NZ Australia Week is presented by Tourism Australia. It features a number of other events that highlight Australian food and wine, film, arts and indigenous culture, the G’Day NZ Corporate Golf Challenge on Monday April 23 including the Lindeman’s Longest Australian Lunch on Friday April 27, and the United Travel Australian Film Festival from April 23 to April 29.

For more information on the Spirit of Mateship Gala Dinner, the Spirit of Mateship Awards or any other G’Day NZ Australia Week events please visit www.australiaweek.co.nz

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