Striving With a Will to SaveStriving With a Will to Save

"Bristling with energy, determination and ambition the story of the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade echoes the founding of brigades in many other pioneering New Zealand communities. What the brigade offered in manpower and enthusiasm, was sadly not matched by the ability of the fledgling Borough to fund, and for many years the battle was constant to equip the brigade with satisfactory equipment and resources. This situation was by no means unique to Ashburton and was a symptom of a young country with its very limited financial resources stretched to capacity. The fire brigade had to stand in line for its share. In more recent times, the legacy of the brigade has placed it at the forefront of eveything an efficient, organised and effective unit should be. No clearer evidence of this than the 2017 rollout of Fire and Emegency New Zealand, launched in Ashburton as the official commencement of a new era of fire and emergency services nationwide. And with it, the integration under one roof of Rural Fire united alongside the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade. And still, after one hundred and fifty years of service to the community, the motto remains as firmly entrenched as always. Ever ready, ever willing. Striving with a will to save."--Back cover.