January 24, 2009

The family of an East Coast fire and ambulance volunteer killed on the job last month has had a trust fund created for it by the Gisborne District Council.
The council created the account after learning Ray Barrett had been the sole income earner through his one-man trucking business, said Gisborne principal rural fire officer Don Scott.
Mr Barrett, from Hick's Bay, was killed when the fire truck he was travelling in crashed on the way to a callout on December 27.
His son Tahi, also a volunteer firefighter, lay hurt with a broken pelvis and serious leg injuries on the road beside him.
The two were on their way to a car crash near Waihau Bay.
Mr Scott said the council, including Mayor Meng Foon and chief executive Lindsay Mckenzie, had kept close contact with the family.
'The family is suffering financial hardship as a result of the accident'.
He said the cost of bills and medical treatment was catching up with the Barrett family and it would take an estimated three months before Tahi Barrett was expected to physically recover.
Mr Scott, speaking on behalf of the family, said it was a challenging time.
'There are a lot of additional costs associated with the loss of a husband and the injuries suffered to a son,' he said.
'With Ray's death, his one-man business stopped operating, which has created serious problems.'
Mr Scott has had inquiries from all over New Zealand from firefighters, fire-related organisations and individuals wanting to make donations.
Mr Foon said he would love the community to get behind the family.
'The Barrett family has given so much to the East Cape community in terms of the volunteer brigade and ambulance services. It would be nice to support them in their time of need by giving a donation,' he said.