March 18, 2009

Firefighter Andrew 'Scotty' Scotland has taken his last ride aboard his favourite Waipu fire truck.
His yellow firefighting helmet sat on the end of his casket as it was hoisted on top of the fire truck by his fellow brigade members yesterday.
The brigade siren sounded as the truck slowly trundled down Nova Scotia Drive to Waipu Cemetery, while about 300 firefighters and emergency services workers lined both sides of the road.
The 34-year-old father of three was farewelled by about 1000 people with old school mates coming from as far away as Perth, Australia, the United States, France and Spain to pay their last respects.
Scotty was killed with an instructor when their hang-glider plummeted into the ground at the foot of the Remarkables, near Queenstown, last week.
He had just competed in the United Fire Brigade's waterways competition _ his seventh during 10 years as a volunteer _ and had decided to end the holiday with a daring flight off the mountains with some fellow firefighters.
Yesterday, people who had had their lives touched by Scotty gathered to remember their mate described as a 'young, vibrant man'.
Business partner and fellow builder Steve Malone remembered Scotty joining him as a 'brash, smarty pants'.
Mr Malone reckoned over the 11 years they had worked together not much had changed.
He recalled when the fire siren sounded Scotty would panic and fight to get his gear belt off so he could respond to the emergency.
Mr Malone said 'the young punk', who referred to him as the 'silly old fart' always took an interest in everyone around him and had touched many lives.
Elroy Thomson said his mate's rugby prowess was still talked about in Hamilton, where he spent time during his building apprenticeship, but it was more his off-field antics that were remembered. He described him as a devoted father who loved children.
'Scotty was the one out there throwing the rope over the branches to make a swing for the kids. He was the one that instigated the water fights and got the wettest,' Mr Thomson said.
Waipu brigade chief fire officer Trevor Vaile said they had tried to encourage Scotty to move up the ranks, but it was his choice to stay at the 'sharp end' of firefighting and he was a great driver.
'Everyone was confident riding with Scotty on the fire truck. He was one of those guys that everyone enjoyed working alongside.
'His dedication to the brigade and the community was second to none.'
Four books were passed around for people to sign and write messages about how they remembered their mate so in the future his children could learn about their father.
Mr Scotland is survived by his pregnant wife, Pauline, and three children, Blake, Olivia and Aydan.
The Pauline Scotland Trust Fund has been created and donations can be made at any branch of the National Bank.