He and four others from the Winton brigade were in the contingent of Southland firefighters that competed in the Challenge in May. Johnstone and fellow Winton firefighter Steve Turton will climb the Sky Tower again on September 11 when the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is held. There will be 343 firefighters taking part. It is being held to remember the 343 New York firefighters who died in the terrorism attacks on the World Trade Centre 20 years ago, and the 66 New Zealand firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Each firefighter involved in the memorial event will dedicate their climb to one of the New York firefighters who died. Johnstone will dedicate his climb to Robert Foti, aged 42; while Turton is climbing for Ruben Correa, 44.
“Not very,” she tells However, this hasn’t stopped her from rising up the ranks. Mckay joined the Ngāruawāhia Fire Brigade when she was 63 after her son suggested she have a look.
Tom Lee/Stuff
Anna Mckay, 71, signed up to the Ngāruawāhia brigade when she was 63. She had just moved to Waikato to be closer to family, but found herself living out of Ngāruawāhia on a hill. It was easy for her to just stay out there. “I needed to get to know people . I needed to make an effort.” So when the brigade put out a call for people who held a Class 4 licence to drive their tanker, something Mckay had, her son Guy Beethem suggested she offer her services.
How fast can you climb the Sky Tower? Hastings firefighter aims to beat personal best
13 May, 2021 06:00 PM
4 minutes to read
Hastings firefighter Ken Laurie training for the upcoming Sky Tower challenge at Mitre 10 Sports Park, Hastings. Photo / Warren Buckland
Hastings firefighter Ken Laurie training for the upcoming Sky Tower challenge at Mitre 10 Sports Park, Hastings. Photo / Warren Buckland
Manawatu Guardian
By: Sahiban Hyde
Ken Laurie has climbed the Sky Tower, the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, for three years running.
This year will be his fourth, and last. Laurie, 54, will be taking part in the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge on May 22 and is hoping to beat his personal best time at the annual fundraiser for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.
The children, also dressed in red, did 22 laps each. Some carried dummies and stretchers. The school’s deputy principal Finn Barnett said they came up with the idea to support the challenge. The children raised the money through sponsors and then handed it to Fire and Emergency for the challenge.
David Unwin/Stuff
Pupils from Kairanga School take part in its fundraiser to support Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand. Pupil Caitlyn Turner, 10, was taking part in the walk, sporting a firefighter’s helmet, and she said the children were keen to support the cause. “One-thousand-one-hundred-and-three [laps] would be a lot to do by yourself, but when you’re splitting it into 22 each it wasn’t that bad.”
Northland news in brief: Library closes for refurbishment; and fundraisers galore
4 May, 2021 05:00 PM
3 minutes to read
Dargaville Library will close for two weeks while it is refurbished.
Northern Advocate
Dargaville Library is encouraging customers to stock up with books and DVDs during May before the library is closed temporarily for a freshen-up. The library will close from 5pm on May 28 and reopen on June 15. Lisa Salter, Kaipara Libraries Manager, said they are rearranging some of the facilities to make better use of the space they have. We re moving large print and audiobooks to a quieter space so people will be able to browse better. The public computers will be relocated to be closer to the counter so the team can help customers if they need it. Shelving will be improved and we re installing more CCTV, Salter said. The library will also be recarpeted, and some fittings moved, which means books will have to be boxed and shelves taken down and re-assembled. The library