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13 September 2024
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First fire chief honoured, Mossel Bay
Firefighters are trained to first and foremost to be fearless when responding to the call of duty. But behind the commitment of being the first responders to often harrowing scenes, are big hearts filled with caring and compassion. Several members of Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management recently participated in a special drive by for former Fire Chief of Mossel Bay, William Davey. Davey, who is fighting a battle against cancer, was the first officially appointed fire chief of Mossel Bay. He was appointed in 1983 and served the Mossel Bay Municipality and its residents for 14 years. From his sickbed, Davey expressed the sincere wish to see a fire engine again and his family arranged the special drive by with Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management.
Davey appointed current Station Commander, Kobus van der Mescht in 1986, who boasts uninterrupted service to the community of Mossel Bay. Van der Mescht was part of the group of firefighters who visited Davey at his home during the special drive by. Also in the group, were two other appointees from the very early days of the official establishment of the municipal fire service, Henry Bester and Marius Barnard, who were appointed during the same intake in 1988. Platoon Commander Bester is still in the local fire service whilst Barnard retired earlier this year after 35 years of active service in Mossel Bay.
Barnard, at the time of his retirement told the story of how the Mossel Bay fire service came to be housed at their current premises, corner Schoeman Street and Louis Fourie Road.
Mossel Bay only got an established fire service in 1987. The original office was based at the taxi rank in the central business district. The fire fighting vehicles were kept in a garage at the current municipal yard in Schoemanstraat, opposite the fire station.
One fine day, Barnard and his colleagues stood at the municipal yard in Schoemanstraat and looked across the road at the opposite building, the current fire station. The building, then a vehicle workshop, belonged to the provincial administration's traffic department.
"We thought it could make a nice fire station and we asked our fire chief, Mr Davey if he could help the municipality obtain it for use by the fire service," explained Barnard. Before long, Davey announced to his team that it has been agreed upon for the fire service to move onto the premises and use the building as a fire station – provided that they would be willing to do much of the renovations themselves, a process Barnard was instrumental in.
The Mossel Bay Municipality salutes Mr William Davey for his service to the community and his role in the establishment of the local fire service.
Photo: Kobus van der Mescht, Marius Barnard (retired), Hein Botha, Henry Bester, Burnitt Laufs, Adrian Cairns.
Source: Mossel Bay Municipality
Davey appointed current Station Commander, Kobus van der Mescht in 1986, who boasts uninterrupted service to the community of Mossel Bay. Van der Mescht was part of the group of firefighters who visited Davey at his home during the special drive by. Also in the group, were two other appointees from the very early days of the official establishment of the municipal fire service, Henry Bester and Marius Barnard, who were appointed during the same intake in 1988. Platoon Commander Bester is still in the local fire service whilst Barnard retired earlier this year after 35 years of active service in Mossel Bay.
Barnard, at the time of his retirement told the story of how the Mossel Bay fire service came to be housed at their current premises, corner Schoeman Street and Louis Fourie Road.
Mossel Bay only got an established fire service in 1987. The original office was based at the taxi rank in the central business district. The fire fighting vehicles were kept in a garage at the current municipal yard in Schoemanstraat, opposite the fire station.
One fine day, Barnard and his colleagues stood at the municipal yard in Schoemanstraat and looked across the road at the opposite building, the current fire station. The building, then a vehicle workshop, belonged to the provincial administration's traffic department.
"We thought it could make a nice fire station and we asked our fire chief, Mr Davey if he could help the municipality obtain it for use by the fire service," explained Barnard. Before long, Davey announced to his team that it has been agreed upon for the fire service to move onto the premises and use the building as a fire station – provided that they would be willing to do much of the renovations themselves, a process Barnard was instrumental in.
The Mossel Bay Municipality salutes Mr William Davey for his service to the community and his role in the establishment of the local fire service.
Photo: Kobus van der Mescht, Marius Barnard (retired), Hein Botha, Henry Bester, Burnitt Laufs, Adrian Cairns.
Source: Mossel Bay Municipality