Fifty years of service, first as a professional firefighter in Dunedin for 47 years and then as a volunteer at Mosgiel for three years, meant he did not blink a eye when firefighters there to celebrate with him left to deal with a fire.
Mr Bethune (70) was New Zealand's 101st firefighter to receive a 50-year service star, and in honour of that he was brought to the ceremony at Mosgiel Fire Station in a Dunedin Fire Brigade Restoration Trust Ford V8 fire truck, escorted by a modern truck, before walking through a guard of honour.
The old truck was still in use when Mr Bethune joined the service in 1962; the new one was what he had been riding in lately.
United Fire Brigade Association president Brian Waters said Mr Bethune, who retired in December, was only the second Mosgiel brigade member to achieve 50 years.
''It is not taken lightly, you have given your time freely and it comes at a cost and can be hard on people.''
He presented Mr Bethune's wife Norma with a certificate of appreciation for her support and then handed her Mr Bethune's gold bars which marked 49 years of service before pinning on the gold star.
Fire Service East Otago area manager Laurence Voight said Mr Bethune had made a huge contribution to the Dunedin fire district and was a valued member of the service.
As a senior station officer, he had been father, brother, teacher and mentor to others.
He had continued this in Mosgiel, offering valuable assistance to younger members.
Fire Service Commission chairman Wyatt Creech said Mr Bethune would have attended about 40,000 calls during his service.
''It takes time, energy and passion.
''People like you are the gold of the stars we present on days like this.''
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and representatives from St John also attended.
• The ceremony was interrupted by a fire in a wheelie bin caused by hot ashes in Goodall St.
