Dr Jessica Sneha Gray

On Saturday, at the Emergency Services Day in Whakatāne, I stood among some of the finest people our community could ever produce.

The sun was out, the sirens were shining, and everywhere you looked there were people, ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Firefighters, police, St John, LandSAR, Neighbourhood Support, Civil Defence, coastguard, every stand had a story, and behind every uniform was a heart that beats for this place we call home.

What struck me most wasn’t the equipment or the displays – it was the people.

I spoke with firefighters who have worked through sleepless nights, police officers who balance firmness with kindness, LandSAR volunteers who search through rugged bush for strangers they may never meet again, and St John officers who arrive first on scenes that others can barely imagine.

Every one of them spoke with quiet pride, humour, and a deep sense of duty.

The highlight of the day for many of us was the live demonstration showing how emergency services work together to rescue someone trapped in a car crash.

Watching it unfold – the co-ordination between firefighters cutting the vehicle, St John officers preparing medical care, and police managing the scene – was truly humbling.

Every movement was calm, efficient, and filled with purpose. It wasn’t just a display of skill; it was a testament to teamwork, trust, and shared humanity.

In that moment, you could see exactly how these people turn chaos into care.

Equally inspiring was seeing the St John youth involved – young people in uniform standing proudly beside their mentors, helping on stalls, assisting the public, and soaking up the atmosphere of service.

Their presence reminded me that the values of care, courage, and community are being passed down to the next generation.

Watching them interact with the public, you could see future paramedics, nurses, doctors, and leaders in the making.

As a member of a St John volunteer team myself, I was reminded today just how much goodness lives in this community.

Many of the people I spoke to are volunteers – they give their time freely, often juggling family life, full-time jobs, and night shifts, simply because they care.

They don’t do it for praise or recognition; they do it because they love their community. That’s something you can’t fake.

It’s easy to forget, in the rush of daily life, that these are the people who show up when things go wrong.

When the roads are flooded, when someone collapses at the supermarket, when the phone rings in the middle of the night – it’s these same neighbours and friends who step forward.

They are calm in chaos, have humour in hardship, and compassion in crisis.

What I saw was more than an event – it reflected who we are as a region.

The Eastern Bay has always been known for its strong community spirit, and our emergency services embody that perfectly.

They show us that strength isn’t loud or boastful; it’s steady, kind, and dependable.

As I left the grounds that afternoon, I couldn’t help but feel proud.

Proud to live here, proud to serve alongside such good people, and proud that in Whakatāne and across the Eastern Bay, our emergency services continue to represent the best of humanity.

Because at the heart of every siren, every callout, and every uniform – there’s a story of love for people.

And that, more than anything, is what keeps our community safe and strong.

Next time you see the lights flashing, hear the siren, or pass someone in uniform, take a moment to smile, wave, or say thank you.

Because behind every callout are people just like us, giving their all so the rest of us can feel safe.

And that, in every sense, is the heartbeat of our community.