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1 December 2023
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Toughest Firefighter Alive 2023 gala dinner and prize giving
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The Toughest Firefighter Alive 2023 prize giving took place at a gala dinner held at the Mossel Bay Town Hall on Saturday evening, 7 October 2023. Again, various dignitaries joined the fire chiefs TFA participants and their families after a rather gruelling but victorious challenge in very wet weather. The Mossel Bay Town Hall was beautifully decorated for the event with TFA’s Mark Smith and Mossel Bay’s Johann Makwak gearing all up for the momentous event.
Mossel Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé shared his view, “There is no such thing as perfect conditions. At the opening I spoke a bit about service excellence. I mentioned two local firefighters who helped a local family in Mossel Bay give their visitor, a well-known local of Mossel Bay, a puffadder, to a location safe for the family and itself. I mentioned that firefighters are heroes because they do what needs to be done.”
“Over the last three days, residents of Mossel Bay and visitors to Mossel Bay looked on in awe as you pushed yourself to your breaking point and then beyond it. They showed up to celebrate and support all of you who have once again come from across the country to test your abilities and your endurance in the Toughest Firefighter Alive Challenge South Africa” said Mayor Kotze.
He continued, “At the opening I also spoke about grit. But this evening I want to speak about the one thing I can say with certainty every single person in this room has thought about once this weekend. That is the idea of “perfect conditions”.
As an entrepreneur and a small-scale farmer, I know that there are moments when certain things come together beautifully in a way that is and feels perfect. However, I also know that there is no such thing and will never be any such thing as “perfect conditions”. Mossel Bay Fire Chief CFO Johnston said on Thursday, “don’t train until you get it right; train until you can’t get it wrong,” Beautiful words and so, so true. We will never have control over all of the conditions; we will only have control over how we respond to the conditions.”
“If we want to be proactive, we also need to prepare. Plan, prepare, train and in that process, we will gear ourselves to adapt to and respond to whatever conditions life throws at us. I must at this point apologise. I just remembered I am talking to firefighters. Running towards the least perfect conditions is not just in the job description but the job title itself.
Firefighters understand better than most the words of MMA Fighter Dan Miller. He said, “Don't wait on perfect conditions for success to happen; just go ahead and do something!” To each and every one of you seated here, you have once again worked against less than perfect conditions, you have once again pushed your body and mind beyond their limits. You have led by example in the competition and through your conduct”, Mayor Kotze said.
“You have emerged as victors over yourselves and as heroes for our community, our town, our province and the country.
It was an honour to host you all. We are thankful for the privilege to host the competition measuring the strength, endurance and ingenuity of 240 men and women, from across the country for a second time. Congratulations to all 30 teams that competed. We look forward to welcoming you all back to the Toughest Firefighter Alive SA event in 2024. Thank you for reminding Mossel Bay that perfect conditions are not essential, only grit and determination”, he concluded.
Portfolio Chair for Community Safety Councillor Leon van Dyk said that he was humbled to join the event as he had a long-standing relationship with the fire department. He quoted Chief Edward F Croker, chief of department at the Fire Department New York, (FDNY) (1899-1911), saying, “I have no ambition in this world but one and that is to be a firefighter. The position may in the eyes of some appear to be a lowly one; but those who know the work which a fire has to do believe his is a noble calling. Our proudest moment is to save lives. Under the impulse of such thoughts the nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring even of supreme sacrifice.” This is what we saw in this competition; passion, integrity and guts. Continue to do the good work with clear objectives, good leadership and passion.”
Mossel Bay Municipality' fire chief, CFO Joseph Johnston, shared some words of thanks, thanking all participants, their chiefs and municipal managers and mayors for the training, preparation and participation. “Why am I here? What the heck did I think of doing this career, this profession. And you are on par with the rest of the world. We have firefighters and technical rescue teams that go and assist all over the world. We are proud of what we do. When an officer comes to me with a problem, I always say that there is no problem. Just a challenge. Find the solution and get it done.”
He added, “I believe in giving people the opportunity to grow and not to spoon feed. I want to thank TFA South Africa and Mark Smith for believing in Mossel Bay. For the committee for organising this event and all the people behind the scenes.
He thanked the sponsors, which included MTN, ABSA, Garden Route Casino Trust, Charnaud, Dräger South Africa, Fire and Rescue International, Old Mutual, AVBOB and various food and water suppliers and shops. He also thanked all the volunteers and night guards and volunteer fire services.
CFO Johnston concluded reading the poem by Kevin Wright, retired from the London Fire Brigade (32 years of service),
“I am neither a hero nor superhero.
I can be burnt by fire and smoke can overcome me.
I can be exhausted by heat and frozen by cold.
I can be trapped by collapse and fall from heights.
I may sustain injury, and even make the ultimate sacrifice for you.
I will suffer all of these… if you need me.
I hope we never meet but if we do, I will never leave you!
I have worked and trained hard and earned this, the proudest of titles...
I am a firefighter.”
MTN’s Jacques Du Preez handed over a special prize for the ‘Best Local Athlete’.
Mossel Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé shared his view, “There is no such thing as perfect conditions. At the opening I spoke a bit about service excellence. I mentioned two local firefighters who helped a local family in Mossel Bay give their visitor, a well-known local of Mossel Bay, a puffadder, to a location safe for the family and itself. I mentioned that firefighters are heroes because they do what needs to be done.”
“Over the last three days, residents of Mossel Bay and visitors to Mossel Bay looked on in awe as you pushed yourself to your breaking point and then beyond it. They showed up to celebrate and support all of you who have once again come from across the country to test your abilities and your endurance in the Toughest Firefighter Alive Challenge South Africa” said Mayor Kotze.
He continued, “At the opening I also spoke about grit. But this evening I want to speak about the one thing I can say with certainty every single person in this room has thought about once this weekend. That is the idea of “perfect conditions”.
As an entrepreneur and a small-scale farmer, I know that there are moments when certain things come together beautifully in a way that is and feels perfect. However, I also know that there is no such thing and will never be any such thing as “perfect conditions”. Mossel Bay Fire Chief CFO Johnston said on Thursday, “don’t train until you get it right; train until you can’t get it wrong,” Beautiful words and so, so true. We will never have control over all of the conditions; we will only have control over how we respond to the conditions.”
“If we want to be proactive, we also need to prepare. Plan, prepare, train and in that process, we will gear ourselves to adapt to and respond to whatever conditions life throws at us. I must at this point apologise. I just remembered I am talking to firefighters. Running towards the least perfect conditions is not just in the job description but the job title itself.
Firefighters understand better than most the words of MMA Fighter Dan Miller. He said, “Don't wait on perfect conditions for success to happen; just go ahead and do something!” To each and every one of you seated here, you have once again worked against less than perfect conditions, you have once again pushed your body and mind beyond their limits. You have led by example in the competition and through your conduct”, Mayor Kotze said.
“You have emerged as victors over yourselves and as heroes for our community, our town, our province and the country.
It was an honour to host you all. We are thankful for the privilege to host the competition measuring the strength, endurance and ingenuity of 240 men and women, from across the country for a second time. Congratulations to all 30 teams that competed. We look forward to welcoming you all back to the Toughest Firefighter Alive SA event in 2024. Thank you for reminding Mossel Bay that perfect conditions are not essential, only grit and determination”, he concluded.
Portfolio Chair for Community Safety Councillor Leon van Dyk said that he was humbled to join the event as he had a long-standing relationship with the fire department. He quoted Chief Edward F Croker, chief of department at the Fire Department New York, (FDNY) (1899-1911), saying, “I have no ambition in this world but one and that is to be a firefighter. The position may in the eyes of some appear to be a lowly one; but those who know the work which a fire has to do believe his is a noble calling. Our proudest moment is to save lives. Under the impulse of such thoughts the nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring even of supreme sacrifice.” This is what we saw in this competition; passion, integrity and guts. Continue to do the good work with clear objectives, good leadership and passion.”
Mossel Bay Municipality' fire chief, CFO Joseph Johnston, shared some words of thanks, thanking all participants, their chiefs and municipal managers and mayors for the training, preparation and participation. “Why am I here? What the heck did I think of doing this career, this profession. And you are on par with the rest of the world. We have firefighters and technical rescue teams that go and assist all over the world. We are proud of what we do. When an officer comes to me with a problem, I always say that there is no problem. Just a challenge. Find the solution and get it done.”
He added, “I believe in giving people the opportunity to grow and not to spoon feed. I want to thank TFA South Africa and Mark Smith for believing in Mossel Bay. For the committee for organising this event and all the people behind the scenes.
He thanked the sponsors, which included MTN, ABSA, Garden Route Casino Trust, Charnaud, Dräger South Africa, Fire and Rescue International, Old Mutual, AVBOB and various food and water suppliers and shops. He also thanked all the volunteers and night guards and volunteer fire services.
CFO Johnston concluded reading the poem by Kevin Wright, retired from the London Fire Brigade (32 years of service),
“I am neither a hero nor superhero.
I can be burnt by fire and smoke can overcome me.
I can be exhausted by heat and frozen by cold.
I can be trapped by collapse and fall from heights.
I may sustain injury, and even make the ultimate sacrifice for you.
I will suffer all of these… if you need me.
I hope we never meet but if we do, I will never leave you!
I have worked and trained hard and earned this, the proudest of titles...
I am a firefighter.”
MTN’s Jacques Du Preez handed over a special prize for the ‘Best Local Athlete’.