Familiar face moves on
Nothing is more reassuring when you are really sick than the arrival of an ambulance at your door and seeing a familiar face at the wheel.
For 28 years that familiar face could have been Turoa Sadler, who has now transferred to the St John Ambulance Service in Hawke’s Bay.
Turoa joined St John Ambulance in 1990 soon after leaving school, helping as a volunteer driver and medic parttime while working at Kiwi Lumber. He joined because some of his friends had joined and said he has never regretted it.
In 2005 Turoa began fulltime work for St John and has loved the experience.
While helping people in trouble and even saving lives is very rewarding, Turoa is adamant it is the friendship of his colleagues which has been Pahiatua Golf Club:
Results: Tuesday May 22 – LGU Gold Medal and Stableford Button, MBM and Qualifying Rd 2, 1 M Read 76 nett, 2= G Sorensen and D Henricksen 77, 4= S Ashton, M McAvoy, P McCool and M Wheeler 79, 8= C Daysh, S Ross, M Lockwood, V Puia-Clark and A Mason. Longest Putt (18): P McCool. the best part of his career.
“It is the people you work with who leave their mark,” he said.
Over 28 years Turoa has seen many changes as technology and society changes. The Mk 2 ambulances he drives are much better equipped with power lifters, one person being able to put a stretcher with patient on it inside now. There are more support systems and there is more power in the motor.
“Your speed is still governed by commonsense,” he says. He admits big car accidents are still a difficult experience but says you take what comes.
He is looking to upgrade his skills and settle into his new environment with his family. He has been working in Hawke’s Bay on and off for almost a year.
At his farewell Dannevirke St John’s Chief Officer Mark Jackson said Turoa was a very reliable member and a real character who will be missed. Twos: S Ross (9).
Thursday May 24 – No play due to rain.
Saturday May 26 – Medal, 2nd Round Byrne Cup and 2nd Qualifying, 1 K Pierey 60 nett – Kieran shot a 79 off the stick, 2 K P Bourke 68, 3 M Ashwell 68, 4 M Galvin 70 nett. Twos: J Metcalfe (14). The jackpot hole was #9 and so not struck.