Tom hangs up his keys to the Tararua Health Shuttle
‘When
you are a volunteer, you only do it because you love doing it.
Pahiatua team leader for the Southern Tararua St John Health Shuttle Tom Fleming has retired after 10 years service to the Health Shuttle and 24 years service with St John.
Tom started the Southern Tararua Health Shuttle after Don Stewart of Dannevirke made the suggestion in 2007. Along with Peter Lindstrom (area committee chairperson) they were given six months trial to prove that the service was sustainable. Following advice from accountant Tony Fouhy that the money needed to be raised was feasible, the service began in March 2008.
“The whole town got in behind it,” said Tom, who served nine and a half years as area coordinator.
It commenced with loan vehicles from St John. Initially several volunteers were contacted but this number grew to 22 over time.
In 2009 the Southern Tararua St John Health Shuttle won the Trustpower Award for volunteers of Tararua District. Tom attended the finals for New Zealand at Nelson in March 2010. In May of 2010 Tom was sponsored to attend the 125th Jubilee of St John, held in Christchurch.
“By 2010 we had raised over $80,000 for our first health shuttle which included a hoist for wheelchairs. At the same time Pub Charities came to the party with $80,000 to enable the purchase of a second health shuttle,” said Tom.
“Having two health shuttles has been worthwhile as some of our patients have appointments in Palmerston North, some in Dannevirke and some Eketahuna patients go to Masterton.
“The most satisfying aspect about volunteering for the Health Shuttle is meeting a cross-section of the community. You meet retired professional people not able to drive anymore. Chatting to them is just so interesting. Interacting with people is so rewarding. Then there is the satisfaction from driving, which I enjoy.
“My wife Jean has assisted me over the last 10 years enabling a crew of two in the health shuttle which is preferable,” said Tom. He has driven a large proportion of the 840,000km that has been clocked up in the health shuttles over the past 10 years.
■ Around 230 patient trips are made in an average month with 14 to 18 drivers volunteering for 330 hours. Around 7000km is travelled by the two health shuttles each month.
■ For anyone willing to become a health shuttle volunteer, there’s full training and support.
“The development of a local call centre is helping to ensure patient and driver