For two new employees, the Fire Service has been an important part of the family for many years.

Yvonne Frew, now the south's business support officer, comes from a financial, administration and health background but has strong links over the past 25 years to the Fire Service through her husband and her son, while volunteer support officer Damian Daly spent 11 years in the Royal New Zealand Air Force's fire department, a year in the volunteer brigade at Renwick just out of Auckland, and three years as a volunteer in his hometown of Orepuki – where his father is chief fire officer and "mum's just been roped in, too".

The pair, whose positions were created earlier this year under the New Zealand Fire Service's national realignment review, began work at the beginning of the month.

For both it was a case of so far, so good.

Mrs Frew did not have to go very far for her new job – before taking up the business support position she worked for St John, housed in the same building in Invercargill. "It's early days and there's lots to learn yet, but I'm really excited about being part of the realignment programme," she said.

Mr Daly, who will be based out of Lumsden, said he had been attracted to the role as it gave him the opportunity to leave Auckland behind, and head back home.

"I thought it was an exciting opportunity to use the skills and experience I have to give back to the volunteer brigades in Southland, and the lifestyle, to get back to Southland ... it's the best part of the world down here," he said.

Southland area manager Bruce Stubbs said the two new roles were an excellent addition to the region's resources, and reduced the pressure on existing staff.

Having a new VSO, in addition to two other positions, meant the number of brigades looked after by each was halved, which meant a more targeted approach for each volunteer brigade, while the new business support position meant he and assistant area manager Julian Tohiariki were freed up from overseeing tasks such as budgeting and auditing, Mr

- © Fairfax NZ News

Comments