Honours for Dannevirke’s St John staff
Dannevirke hosted one of the Central Region of St John’s award ceremonies recognising the local volunteers on Sunday March 1. .
Community Engagement Officer Gael McKechnie says normally these award ceremonies are large city events but it was decided to take the awards to the communities where the volunteers work.
There are up to 10 of these in the Central Region, Palmerston North and Feilding, Napier, Hastings and Waipukurau along with Whanganui and Marton sharing ceremonies.
Dannevirke had one and Regional Trust Board Representative and Knight of Justice of the St John Order Rex Wheeler attended to present the medals and awards.
The Service Medal of the Order of St John was formally instituted in 1898 and has two distinct features.
It is the only medal still issued which retains the picture of Queen Victoria who granted St John its Royal Charter in 1888, and the picture itself is facing in the opposite direction to that normally found on medals of Victoria’s reign. It is considered a huge honour to receive one.
The ceremony was held in St John Anglican Church. Rev Jo Crosse said it was great to have the building used for such an occasion. It was followed by afternoon tea.
There were 17 recipients on Sunday. Don Stewart was the most recognised with his seventh bar to his Service Medal for his 47 years of service.
Two others who have served 12 years were Susann Harrison and Delwyn Walker.
■ For three years’ service: Faye Carroll Faye (Health Shuttle Driver), Samuel Smith Samuel (Cadet Corporal), Ruth Ussher (Health Shuttle Driver).
■ For six years’ service: Kim Bradbury (Ambulance Officer and a member of the Bush Area Committee), Allison Burson (Health Shuttle Assistant), Roger Burson (Health Shuttle Driver), Donna Clarke (Health Shuttle Driver), Kelvin Holloway (Health Shuttle Driver), Steve St Merat (Health Shuttle Driver, a Volunteer Ambulance Officer and a casual Emergency Medical Assistant), Jim Vercoe-Austing (Health Shuttle Driver), Vonny Vercoe-Austing (Health Shuttle
Driver), Annette Waterman (Health Shuttle Driver).
■ For nine years’ service: Ralph Adrian Ralph (Member of the Area Committee), Robyn Mosen (Emergency Medical Assistant).
■ Service Medals for 12 years’ service: Susann Harrison — Susann is a Volunteer Ambulance Officer and Patient Transfer Service Officer. She is currently an Emergency Medical Assistant.
Delwyn Walker — Delwyn commenced her service as a Volunteer Ambulance Officer and a Youth Leader. She went on to hold fulltime roles in both Waipukurau and Dannevirke. Delwyn is currently an Emergency Medical Assistant and District Youth Manager. Awarded his seventh bar to his Service Medal for 47 years of service Don Stewart first served as a Volunteer Events Officer, then a member of the Area Committee which he now chairs, and the Health Shuttle Team Leader. Don is an Officer of the Order.