Mr Walter — who has served the Waiwera South Volunteer Fire Brigade for all 50 of those years — was honoured with a double gold star for his contribution during a recent ceremony in front of 130 wellwishers, at Balclutha’s TPŌMA.
The 81-year-old "semi-retired" farmer said he had joined the service later than some, after initially being rebuffed due to the distance of his farm from the fire station.
"In those early days, 6km was thought to be a little too far to respond quickly enough to call-outs and get to training etc. But I think numbers got a bit tight in the ’70s, and they let me in.
"We had a look at the records the other day and I’ve got a 99.58% attendance rate, so I turned out a pretty safe bet."
He said he had experienced the full gamut of callouts during his five decades, 25 years of which were spent as chief fire officer until he stepped back to an operational support role in 2021.
"You see everything, from terrible tragedy to the occasionally comical, and you share it all with a fantastic group of people who are there to serve their community.
"Probably the biggest fire was at [freezing works] Finegand in the early ’80s, when maintenance ignited panelling during the off season.
"I remember the call went out, ‘mobilise South Otago’. So every single brigade was there trying to put out this fire, but the material was very hard to extinguish once it got going. We got there though."
On the lighter side, he said he had been involved in at least one memorable feline rescue while on duty.
A local man’s cat had climbed to the top of a tree and was "making a racket", apparently stuck.
"We sent one of our bigger guys up on a ladder, but the cat didn’t like the look of his big paw coming towards him, so he leapt like a flying squirrel, landed on all fours and disappeared across the lawn without so much as a thank-you."
A move to new, purpose-built premises in 1996 had improved the lot of volunteers, he said.
"We used to huddle in the old hut waiting to be dismissed by Clinton, and you could see your breath some nights. We moved the hut and still use it as a garage though."
Mr Walter said he was proud — and a little surprised — to have served for so long, but did not feel he was particularly special.
"All communities rely on their volunteers. New Zealand would be stuffed without them."
