Two local firefighters were recognised for achieving an impressive 25 years' service each, at the recent Tauranga Fire Brigade honours night.

Kerry Gordon and Mike Williams each received Gold Star awards for their long service.

Many of their colleagues also received awards at the evening held at Trinity Wharf Hotel on Saturday night.

Station officer Bruce Nilson, who received his own award for 35 years' service, says making it to the quarter-century mark is a great achievement.

'Only five per cent of New Zealand firefighters achieve that milestone, so it's very significant.”

He says both Kerry and Mike work throughout the Bay of Plenty.

Graeme Easton presenting gift to Gold Star recipient Mike Williams for 25 years' service.

'Kerry is a volunteer support officer, who provides administrative assistance to brigades from Waihi down to Maketu. He's also a volunteer firefighter at Greerton. While Mike is one of the career firefighters who moves around between Tauranga, Greerton and the Mount, and Kawerau district.”

Other service awards on the evening included the three-year certificates, and silver medals for those who had served five years.

'Every two years after that you get a silver two-year bar to go on the ribbon, until 25 years, when you receive the Gold Star,” says Bruce.

He says there were almost 200 guests, including people from brigades outside the district.

'We had people there who were just recruits starting out, right up to a guy who has done 53 years' service. It was a great night.”

United Fire Brigades Association deputy chairman Glenn Williams presenting station officer Bruce Nilson an award for 35 years' service.

Graeme Easton presenting station officer Malcolm Ward with a life membership medal.

Close-up of the Gold Star medal.