Senior firey Bill Falcone says the brigade occasionally holds "morale-boosting" activity nights to encourage team building.
When it booked an experience with outdoor activity business The Playground, co-owners Penny Bolton and Aaron McLeod refused to take their money.
Bolton told them they’d donate the experience as a "thank you" for everything the brigade does for the community.
"It’s awesome to feel that much support from a local business," Falcone says.
It’d been "terrific" to see his fellow volunteers enjoying themselves trying bubble soccer and archery combat at the Remarkables Primary School grounds last week, in marked contrast to what they collectively experience at serious crashes or medical callouts.
"These type of nights do wonders for everyone’s mental health, and do help offset the potential effects of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)."
It’s estimated one in three Fire and Emergency New Zealand volunteers suffer from PTSD, he says.
