Local man honoured

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 2, 14 June 1983, Page 1

Local man honoured

A well known and greatly respected Waimarino resident last week received recognition for his 40 years service to the community. He is Mr George Chan, of Raetihi, who has served with the Raetihi Volunteer Fire Brigade for the past 40 years — the last 20 as Chief Fire Officer. He has now been awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal (QFSM) for distinguished service in the latest Queens Birthday Honours List announced last week. George Chan first joined the Brigade in June 1944, became Deputy Chief in 1952 and the Chief in 1963. As Chief Fire Officer in Raetihi he has been involved in the setting up of the new Fire Station. He has also been a representative on the Local Fire Authority for the past 21 years. George received the Gold Star for 25 years service to the Brigade in 1969 and already holds the Queens Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. In addition to his contribution to the fire service he has also been a past member and chairman . of the Ruapehu College Board of Governors. George Chan was born in Ohakune in 1919, the son of a large Chinese family — both his parents came from China. His father settled in the Waimarino in 1908 and George attended first Ohakune Primary School

and then Raetihi Primary School befoire returning to Ohakune where he attended the District High School (now Ruapehu College). On completion of his secondary schooling he went to Wanganui to study engineering at the Wanganui Tech, but when the opportunity arose to travel with his family back to China in 1936 he decided to accompany them to Canton. The Chan family only stayed a year — the Sino Japanese War was getting too close to Canton for comfori — and they returned to New Zealand. They took over a grocers shop in Raetihi in 1937, then started market gardening prior to World War II. During the war the Chan family worked on a government contract to supply fresh vegetables to U.S. Forces in the Pacific and ' George became a liaison officer between the growers and the internal marketing division. He maintained his interest in the family farm, which later converted to cattle and sheep, until he 'retired' in 1980. He has been married to Violet for 42 years and they have four children — two sons and two daughters. In his free time George is a keen shooter and skier. His fellow firemen and many friends have been delighted to hear of his welldeserved honour and many have already phoned and called to congratulate him.