Nest egg hatches into a giant gift
A Manawatū resident who has made a substantial donation to the region’s emergency services describes her generosity as simply “living the dream”.
Fay Jewell, 93, has purchased and donated a special ambulance for Hato Hone St John, handing over the keys at her Feilding home yesterday.
The Mercedes-Benz major incident support vehicle, capable of treating up to 50 patients, and costing several hundred thousand dollars, will be used at both civil emergencies and large social events in the wider Manawatū.
Jewell, who had no siblings and had never married, gifted the vehicle through a trust set up many years ago to manage her finances.
“I had a little nest egg which I thought one day, maybe in about 20 years, it might grow into something substantial and do a useful thing with it – this being the useful thing,” she said. “I’m living the dream.”
Jewell, who moved to Feilding in 1977, had enjoyed a globe-trotting career as a travel guide, which had taken her to 78 countries. Before her “big OE”, she had been a librarian for 20 years.
She said the emergency vehicle was fantastic and looked forward to getting a ride. St John lead events support officer Darren Culpan said the vehicle could be used as a field hospital in major emergencies. It contained equipment to support frontline teams, with stretchers, an inflatable rescue shelter, generator, scene lighting and communications gear.
A dedication ceremony was held at Jewell’s home, attended by trustees and St John staff. “This gathering is the outcome I’d hoped for many moons ago,” she said.