Family tradition and support led to 50-year volunteer service for an Omakau man.

Lloyd Harris followed his father and older brother into the fire service when he was a school-leaver working in shearing sheds.

He changed careers as opportunities arose and circumstances changed but has remained a committed volunteer for half a century.

After deciding shearing sheds were not for him, Mr Harris took up a carpentry and joinery apprenticeship, which ultimately led him to work on the Clyde Dam project.

"I didn’t really like [the shearing sheds] but it taught me to work and to work along with different people and ...…