‘Thank you’ Tamahere
On April 21, 2010, two years after the fatal Icepak Coolstores blast and fire of April 5, 2008, the Tamahere community and others who helped to rescue firefighters and helped in other ways were thanked for their bravery and community spirit.
The official party included the Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand, Lady Susan Satyanand, Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy, Fire Service Commission chairwoman Dame Margaret Bazley and members of the commission, Fire Service national commander Mike Hall, Waikato District Council mayor Peter Harris and regional and Waikato Fire Service personnel.
Click the following link for the full text of the Governor General’s speech: GG memorial 21.4.10
Click the following link for the full text of the speech by Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy: Nathan Guy memorial 21.4.10
Here is how the day unfolded in pictures:
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- The Governor General arrives at Tamahere
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- The Governor General is welcomed with a haka by Tamahere School pupils
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- Firefighters and Tamahere locals attend the memorial event
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- Fire Commission chair Dame Margaret Bazley addresses the memorial day
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- Derek Lovell is remembered
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- Tiffany Lovell holds her fathers photo high (Photo: NZ Herald)
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- Milli Lovell, left, with members of the Lovell family
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- Fire survivor Merv Neil and wife Alice Williams
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- Tainui kaumatua Koroneihana Cooper, right, blesses the memorial
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- From left, Merv Neil, Cameron Grylls, Emma Frengley and Dr Rob Frengley cut the ribbon around the memorial
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- Tamahere School students in song after the unveiling of the memorial
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- Rob Frengley, centre, at the unveiling of a memorial plaque in Tamahere with Governor General Anand Satyanand
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- ‘Thank you’ Tamahere Memorial Day
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- L-R, Merv Neil, Dennis Wells, Cameron Grylls, Brian Halford, Alvan Walker, David Beanland, Adrian Brown
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- L-R, Merv Neil, wife Alice Williams, Lady Susan Satyanand, Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, Dame Margaret Bazley
