“Every time the fire siren goes off, I know she wants to come with me.”
Among the hundreds of attendees – many of them families – at Saturday’s Te Awamutu police station open day was three-year-old Harper-mae Shaw.
Fave – Three-year-old Harper-mae Shaw sits in a parked fire truck with her ‘Poppa D’, grandad and Te Awamutu volunteer firefighter Dave Shaw. Photo: Jeremy Smith
Wearing her very own firefighter uniform, she was more than happy to smile for The News’ camera as she sat in the front passenger seat of a parked fire truck outside the Palmer St fire station with her grandfather, ‘Poppa D’, Dave Shaw.
Shaw has been a Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade member for more than 30 years and said Harper-mae has already told him she wants to join when she is old enough.
The youngest open day attendee spotted by The News on Saturday was one-year-old Revie May Te Whaiti, who was all smiles in the back seat of a parked police car. Photo: Jeremy Smith
It’s exactly the kind of example which delighted the day’s organisers, acting sergeant Brenton Irwin and senior sergeant Dave Hall.
Hall told The News the day was put together to inspire the next generation, and help anyone interested in a future career with the police learn more about recruitment, as well as about crime-busting technology.
Billy Bain, 4, and his three-year-old sister Maebel sit in the front of a parked police car on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Smith
There were opportunities to tour the Roche Street police station cells and meet frontline staff.
The police dog team, Search and Rescue, and members of the Armed Offenders Squad were also on hand, and Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade members, Hato Hone St John and CommSafe representatives were present.
Volunteer fire firefighters demonstrated a car extraction for a large audience.
Hall said he was delighted by how Saturday unfolded.
Puahue School student James Cleal, 7, has a turn at ‘driving’ the police boat which was on display on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Smith
“We had lots of interest expressed ahead of the day, so to see so many people – including lots of families – show up was great.”
The success of Saturday could lead to further open days in Te Awamutu, but the next open day was now being planned for the Hamilton police station.
Constable Ryan Fleming of On the Beat fame talks about equipment carried in patrol cars. Photo: Jeremy Smith
Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade members demonstrate a car extraction. Photo: Jeremy Smith
Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade members demonstrate a car extraction. Photo: Jeremy Smith
