Ian Walker (firefighter)

Ian Walker
QSM
Born
Ian Norman Walker

1945 or 1946 (age 78–79)
OccupationMechanic
Known forChief fire officer
SpouseGwen Walker

Ian Norman Walker QSM (born 1945 or 1946)[1] is a New Zealand volunteer firefighter.

Career

Walker became a member of the Kaikōura volunteer fire brigade in 1979. He assumed the role of Chief Fire Officer in 1985, and was granted a Life Membership in 2002.[2] Walker served as the Chief Fire Officer during major floods in the district in 1993, and during the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.[3] The work of the volunteer fire brigade in supporting the local community was celebrated in July 2016, when Walker and the entire volunteer fire brigade crew of 25 and their partners were acknowledged with a complimentary dinner at a local restaurant, The Pier Hotel.[4]

Walker also runs an automotive business in Kaikōura.[5][1]

Walker was a member of the Kaikōura District Council between 1986 and 1992.[2]

2016 Kaikōura earthquake

Main article: 2016 Kaikōura earthquake

In the immediate response to the Kaikōura earthquake of 14 November 2016, Walker took a lead role in co-ordinating between the local community and Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Urban Search and Rescue, the New Zealand Defence Force and other stakeholders.[2]

The fire brigade mobilised immediately following the earthquake and assembled at the Fire Station, despite many volunteers suffering extensive damage to their own properties and businesses in the town. The doors of the Fire Station were damaged, trapping the fire engines inside until the doors could be removed. There was no power in the town and most phone networks were not operating.[3][6]

One of the many notable actions of the Kaikōura volunteer fire brigade in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake was the rescue of a 100 year old woman from the ruins of the collapsed historic Elms Homestead.[7] Despite the building being on low-lying ground, the threat of tsunami, and on-going after-shocks, the entire brigade worked through the night to free the woman and search for others in the collapsed building. Walker says about this experience:[8]

We may be volunteers but as soon as you put a fire brigade uniform on, you have a job to do.

Honours and awards

In the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, Walker was awarded the Queen's Service Medal, for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.[9][10][11]

Personal life

Walker is married to Gwen.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mechanic wins royal recognition". Autofile. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Fire and Emergency honours' recipients congratulated". Fire and Emergency New Zealand. 1 June 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Macdonald, Nikki (16 November 2016). "Kaikoura volunteer fire chief Ian Walker on his broken Corvette and the week from hell". Stuff. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  4. ^ Ineson, Joel (25 July 2016). "Thanks paid to Kaikoura Volunteer Fire Brigade". Stuff. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  5. ^ O'Callaghan, Jody (7 February 2014). "'Short-cut' courier van wiped out by train". Stuff. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  6. ^ Lewis, Oliver (14 November 2017). "'The sea's gone' - Kaikōura fire chief Ian Walker remembers the earthquake". Stuff. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  7. ^ Perrottet, Alex (19 November 2016). "Kiwis pull the country together again". RNZ. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  8. ^ Anderson, Vicki (19 November 2016). "The miraculous rescue of 100-year-old Margaret Edgar". Stuff. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Queen's Birthday Honours: The full list". New Zealand Herald. 1 June 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Queen's Birthday Honours 2020 – Citations for the Queen's Service Medal". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  11. ^ Bhattarai, Rahul (4 June 2020). "Firefighter still fighting the good fight after 40 years of service". Stuff. Retrieved 6 July 2024.