VALENTINE’S Day can bring the romantic out in many people, and this Valentine’s Day was no exception for a local firefighter.

Medowie Rural Fire Brigade crew set hearts on fire on Valentine’s Day, when they teamed up to help their Deputy Captain Harrison Wright to secretly set up an opportunity to  propose to Kyra McGrorey-Clark.

An elaborate plan was created, aptly named ‘Operation Beyonce’ (think “all the single ladies”) and the Brigade was more than happy to give their time and energy to their Deputy Captain, helping him to propose to a woman who has always selflessly supported his commitment to the Brigade.

Harrison and Kyra were on their way to a fancy Valentine’s dinner, with a stop on the way for Harrison to drop off some equipment to the station, or so she thought.

When they arrived to see the station car park was full, Kyra immediately became panicked that it was ‘all happening again’ after last week’s catastrophic conditions, and Harrison was about to be called out to a fire, therefore quashing their dinner plans.

Harrison leapt from the car, asking Kyra to bring in his helmet while he ran ahead to get changed so that he could leave quickly with the rest of the Brigade.

Kyra comically told News Of The Area, that at this point, she thought, “This is it, I’m going to be watching desperate housewives and eating Pizza alone on Valentine’s Day.”

“As I came around the corner, he was standing at the top of the steps with the Brigade all around him, as well as his brother and friends from neighbouring brigades.”

“It didn’t even register until we were mid hug that he was proposing, and I just lost it.”

Amid cheers from the Brigade, Harrison dropped to one knee, and asked the burning question.

Harrison told News Of The Area, “It’s not everyday you get to ask your best friend to marry you, and I was lucky enough to ask my beautiful partner for her hand in marriage, in the presence of my second family.”

Harrison has given almost 15 years to the NSW Rural Fire Service and is proud of not only his commitment to the Brigade, but also the commitment of his now fiancé.

“It’s simply not something that is in the background for me, and Kyra has embraced the Brigade and its commitments alongside me, without hesitation.”

“She has a compassion and understanding that I genuinely envy, and since I first met her, I knew that one day I would marry her and also have her four beautiful daughters in my life.”

“It was only fitting to have them all present when I asked Kyra to marry me, and what better group of people to help organise a large-scale surprise than the people who regularly conduct massive emergency operations!

Both Kyra and Harrison were insistent that they could not express how thankful they were to the Brigade for helping Harrison to pull off such an amazing proposal.

Kyra told News Of The Area, “The Brigade is such a major part of our lives and I could not be more proud of each and every one of them for giving up their time for people they don’t even know in emergency situations.”

“What made my night though, is that on Valentine’s Day and with very little notice, so many Brigade members had somehow convinced their significant others that Harry’s proposal to me was more important than whatever plans they may have had.”

“They were there for us, to support us, and I owe a massive thank you, as a partner of a brigade member, to all the other brigade partners for being so understanding and supportive on such a special day,” she said.

News Of The Area congratulates Harrison and Kyra on their news, and wishes them every happiness together as they plan their future and continue to support our community with their efforts in Medowie.

 

By Rachael VAUGHAN