Thanks, Tom

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 232, 23 February 1988, Page 2

Thanks, Tom

This column is designed simply to salute the unsung heroes of our community. How often we publish the column depends on reader participation. He need your suggestions in the form of a phone call or letter of nomination. This week's hero is a local firemen who has a habit of going beyond the call of duty.

Modesty prevails with Raetihi man Tom McCann, this week's winner of the Bulletin ' s Bouquet. Mr McCann's untiring work in helping to clean up the aftermath of Dobson Brother's devastating fire did not go unnoticed. Why does he go out of his way to help people? "Why not?", says Tom. "There's too much of people not helping one another." "Don't make too much of me - my work mates will give me a hard time," he added. Raetihi born father of three, Tom McCann is a cleaner at Winstones Pulp Industries by day and a volunteer fireman when the o c c a s i o n calls. As local as they come, he attended Raetihi School and then went on to Ruapehu College. He worked for the Raetihi Milk Company for 18 years and more recently at Winstone's Mill. A keen rugby player

in former years, he represented Raetihi on various occasions before giving it up to

coach youngsters. Twenty years a volunteer fireman with the Raetihi Fire Brigade this year, Mr McCann maintains fire fighting is "in the blood" in his family. Eldest son Kenneth, an apprentice plumber, is also in the brigade. Fifteen-year-old Aaron also aspires to be a volunteer fireman. His wife Lynda and daughter Lee are content for Tom to continue doing what he does best - lending a helping hand to people in need, in this instance John Dobson, an old school companion. Keep up the g o o d work, Tom!

The following letter of nomination was received from a Raetihi resident. I wish to bring to your attention an act of selflessness performed by Volunteer Fireman Tom McCann. Not only was he present on the evening of the recent blaze at Dobson Bros Ltd, which wrought total havoc, as indeed were all members of the Brigade, but he went beyond the call of duty in the following days. He offered his time and services in cleaning up and carting away all the mess caused by the fire, for which he received no remuneration. In this throw-away society in which we live, where people tend to care only about themselves, it's nice to know old-fashioned values still exist and that people like Mr McCann are around, ready to lend a hand. I was impressed with his community spirit and I'm sure Mr Dobson appreciated his assistance. ^AAAAAA>\A^AA>VA>\AAA»A>\A>\AV\A>\A>\AV\ AV\ /