Don Geddes of Ashburton has thoughts of retiring from the workforce but doesn’t know when that might be.
But when it does happen, he will be leaving behind a legacy of achievement, one that also features many a volunteer role.
The 72-year-old grandad was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the recent New Year’s Honours List 2026. It was for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Land Search and Rescue and the community.
‘‘It’s quite cool, it’s not why you do stuff, but I suppose over time a lot of years have gone into it,’’ Don said this week.
Don is senior advisor risk reduction for FENZ, continuing to work full-time as he has done throughout his professional life.
The citation of service in the honours list is a long one.
Don worked with the district council as both principal rural fire officer and civil defence emergency management officer for 18 years. Through this role, he managed 10 rural fire forces and 180 volunteers.
He has been a key liaison with Federated Farmers, developing long-standing relationships with the arable farming sector, particularly for the safe burning of crop residue.
In 2016 he helped facilitate the implementation of a Welfare Trust, which supports the welfare of volunteer firefighters and their families. Don said this was one of the things he was most proud of.
He has also volunteered for Land Search and Rescue New Zealand (Land SAR) with the Methven group for 50 years and chaired the group for 19 years.
He has served on the Canterbury Regional SAR Committee and chaired that committee for a term.
He served as a gazetted advisor (Land SAR) to the New Zealand Police. He was part of a five-person National Land SAR Advisory Panel in 2016, to the then chief executive of Land SAR New Zealand.
Don is also a trustee and chair of WanderSearch Canterbury, a volunteer organisation providing free radio frequency devices for vulnerable individuals at risk of wandering.
He has served as a trustee of the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust and continues his involvement with the trust as a volunteer.
Throughout his search and rescue service, Don has been involved in about 500 different searches, ranging from those that are all over within a few minutes to those which are still not resolved to this day.
‘‘The ones that stick in your mind, it’s unfinished business really,’’ Don said.
But then of course there was the flipside, the absolute highlight of a successful outcome.
‘‘It’s a real buzz when we find somebody alive, safe and well.’’
Don said it had been a collective effort, with support from wife Diana, colleagues and fellow volunteers.
‘‘I have been part of some amazing teams of people,’’ he said.
