That will change this Saturday as Mr Sturgeon resigns after 43 years as fire chief, an achievement that is believed to make him the longest-serving volunteer fire chief in New Zealand.
Mr Sturgeon, who has been a volunteer firefighter for 49 years, planned to continue to be involved with the brigade and while he was sad to leave the top spot, he knew it was time.
“It’s one of those things in life where you have to step aside and let the younger ones go on. Life is catching up with us,” Mr Sturgeon said.
Last year, Mr Sturgeon and former deputy firefighter Richard Nehoff agreed that it was time for others to act. But when Mr Nehoff died on April 20 last year, Mr Sturgeon felt it was the wrong time for him to move on and left it until this year.
Mr. Sturgeon led a life of service and left his community in a better place than he found it.
Growing up in Dunedin, he remembered watching firefighters leave Dunedin Central Fire Station and thinking he would enjoy being in one.
“To never realize that so many years later I not only went on one of those trucks, but started driving one of those trucks.”
In 1969, Mr Sturgeon moved to Aviemore and worked as an electrician for New Zealand Electricity before the Benmore Power Station in 1973.
It was there, 25 years old, that he worked with Michael Galvin, fire chief in Otematata, who asked him to join the brigade.
Mr Peter Coughlan, of the Weston Brigade, also partnered with them.
“It was quite ironic that we had two fire chiefs and a senior officer here … all of whom served in volunteer brigades in one company,” Mr Sturgeon said.
After becoming a senior firefighter, and Kurow’s secretary, Mr. Sturgeon took over from George Cogger in 1979.
Over the years, he has witnessed massive industrial changes, from budgets for fuel supplies, uniforms and a length of hose, to new vehicles, equipment and health and safety measures.
He remembered when women were allowed to join brigades – Kurow now had three that were “really cool.”
Shouts also changed – where brigades regularly attended chimney, house, vegetation and grass fires, Kurow, known as a rescue unit, now mainly attended vehicle accidents and medical events.
“The whole thing was completely reversed.”
He could remember every call – “you never forget them” – but it was vehicle accidents that left the biggest scars.
The trauma associated with accidents deeply affected its members, and dealing with it as a principal was “probably the biggest thing”.
He held accident investigation sessions, peer support teams were available and each member had a support number to call, something that Mr Sturgeon strongly encouraged.
“It’s so important. It gets people to … have the guts to call that number.”
It was the camaraderie of the brigade that he enjoyed the most, and over the years he has seen members grow as people and ashes and firefighters.
“We all come from diverse backgrounds and not two of us are the same, but they bring together a wide range of skills and abilities that we cherish and use within the volunteer organization.”
Mr Sturgeon never foresaw that he would still be involved today, and was “overwhelmed” to hear he is New Zealand’s longest-serving volunteer chief.
His wife Isobel and sons Brendon and Michael played a “massive role” in being able to continue his role.
“I may have missed a few birthdays during their growing up years, including my wife’s, that’s what it was then. It was a service to your community.”
The brigade had been “incredible” and he wished his successor all the best.