One of the fire trucks parked outside Robbie Morriss’ funeral.
Robbie Morriss’ favourite colour was red.
When he was a builder, his work van and all his tools were red, he loved red jelly, red roses and even owned a red diary.
“So,” his daughter Christine Morriss said last week, “…we thought it perfect for him to rest easy in a red casket painted by his family using his final pale of red paint.”
The life of a man described as outgoing, articulate, meticulous and family-orientated was honoured last week as Robbie’s family and friends gathered at Te Awamutu’s Alexandra House Chapel.
Robbie, who served almost 60 years with the New Zealand Fire Service – 58 to be exact – died aged 85 on June 22.
He was a former chief fire officer of both Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade and Pirongia Voluntary Rural Fire Force.
Robbie Morriss served 58 years with the New Zealand Fire Service, a tenure shared between the Te Awamutu and Pirongia brigades.
Robert Morriss was born on October 11,1937 in Te Awamutu, the youngest of four children.
When Robbie’s mother died when he was seven, his siblings helped raise him while his father George ran the family business.
At 17, he was employed as a building apprentice by Jack Dalton.
“The two,” Christine said of her father and Jack, “…would go on to have a wonderful working relationship.”
Robbie ultimately became a self-employed builder and it was Jack who encouraged him to join the Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade in January 1955. It was a dedication which would last decades and bring accolades.
He was president of the United Fire Brigades Association in 1986-87, recognised with a Gold Star for 25 years’ service in 1980 and made an honorary life member of the Te Awamutu brigade in 1987.
He was appointed Te Awamutu’s chief fire officer in 1990 and was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 1995.
In 1994, about a year after the Pirongia Voluntary Rural Fire Force was established, force members asked Robbie to help train them. For about 18 months, he held both the role of Te Awamutu’s chief fire officer and a role in which he helped with training at Pirongia.
Robbie Morriss.
After retiring in 1996, he formally joined Pirongia as a training officer – ultimately becoming Pirongia’s chief fire officer in 2003.
In 2007, Robbie was honoured with a medal for 50 years with the fire service at a ceremony at Pirongia Rugby Sports Club.
Among other roles, Robbie was, at various times, president of the King Country Fire Brigade Sub Association, the Waikato Fire Brigade Sub Association and the Auckland Provincial Fire Brigades Association.
He retired in 2012.
Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Ian Campbell noted that “In between the few dates that have been mentioned, Robbie devoted many volunteer hours, and made multiple contributions to his community.”
Robbie’s time in the fire service, Christine said, was sustained by a combination of his compassion for his community, his outstanding practical ability and his love of camaraderie.
He and wife Margaret – “two peas in a pod”, were married 60 years.
Summer weekends were spent travelling up and down the country attending “intense and exciting” fire brigade competitions – Te Awamutu were a formidable team.
Those competitions became a large part of Robbie’s life. He won three national titles and numerous other district titles.
Former Pirongia Volunteer Rural Fire Force Chief Fire Officer Bruce Budd said Robbie was one of the “great ones”.
“He’s one who stands tall in the history of Pirongia Rural Fire Force. We’ll be forever grateful.”
