Supporting a fellow FENZ Volunteer - Kingston Controller Pete Ottley
Kingston
Peter Ottley is a Volunteer Fire Fighter in Kingston. Pete and his family need our help.
Pete has PTSD that was triggered by attending a horrendous bus accident prior to Christmas. Not the first one he's seen over his 13 years as a volunteer, but this one hit hard. He has needed to take time off work to look after himself.
What can we do to help? It would be life-changing if we could lift the financial burden and allow Pete and his family time to heal.
Pete has been brave in sharing his story through local media. He’s drawing a focus to the fact that Volunteer firefighters are excluded from certain ACC benefits due to being classified as non-employees.
One day at a time Pete. We are all here to support you.
Link to the Otago Daily Times is here - https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/no-acc-help-over-ptsd-dismays
Link to the Lakes Weekly article is here - https://lwb.co.nz/content/community-backs-volunteer-firefighter
Link to the Southland Times article is here - https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360592112/volunteer-fireman-denied-acc-cover-after-mental-breakdown?
A fellow FENZ Volunteer
Any money raised will be paid direct to Pete, covering usual household expenses.
Thank you from Pete Ottley - Part Two 10 April 2025
To all the Fire Brigade volunteers, St John, Fire and Emergency who have called, messaged, or sat down for a yarn - thank you! Hearing your own stories and knowing I’m not alone in this has meant the world to me. What we do as volunteers isn’t for the glory, it’s for our communities. And to be part of a team that shows up, no matter what, to help others get home safe... that’s something truly special. The work we do matters and it makes a difference. Thank you for looking after me, for protecting me and for letting me know that it’s okay to feel this way.
To our amazing wider community—thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness, your care and your generosity have been overwhelming. The support we’ve received has truly helped carry us through.
To everyone who donated to the Givealittle page, I can’t thank you enough. Every contribution has made a difference and it’s allowed me to focus on healing and finding my feet again. It’s something I’ll never ever forget.
I’m working on getting better and once I do, I look forward to catching up with as many of you as I can - and being one of those people who helps others through tough times, just like you did for me.
Thank you!
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