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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-10-20 Daily Xml
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ST JOHN AMBULANCE AWARDS

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (15:45): Today I would just like briefly to discuss a representation I made for the Premier, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Volunteers last Saturday at the St John Ambulance Awards. The awards were given in the presence of the Governor, and a number of St John volunteers were acknowledged for their efficient service to the community.

It was an opportunity for St John to come together to honour and celebrate the efforts of the St John workers, and particularly the volunteers. St John has been operating for 128 years, and, on Saturday, it also celebrated 20 years of its Community Care Program and 75 years of its Cadet Program. Awards were given for Operations for Long Service Awards, and there were also the priory votes of thanks for distinguished support for St John.

In that regard, I would just like to put on the record the support provided by the Arno Bay Progress Association, Clean Seas Aquaculture and Robert Rhen from Arno Bay. The association, Clean Seas Aquaculture and Rob Rehn have provided enormous financial support to the Arno Bay division of St John, and, without their contribution, its ability to respond to the local community would be certainly diminished.

In fact, the association provides support, as does, as I said, Clean Seas Aquaculture. The Community Care Awards are something which, I must confess, I learnt about for the first time. I was not aware that St John did this work. I have always seen St John as the ambulance people—the people you see at the various sporting events in the communities and various other community events. The St John people are always there.

One thing I was not aware of was its Community Care Program, which is actually financially supported in part by the Home Assist grant by the federal government and also by local government and the state. They actually provide home visiting and outings. They help older and home-bound people with shopping and also make regular telephone contact. Also, importantly, they provide people who have older family members assurance that their older family members are being looked after in their home.

The Training Awards were also handed out. There was also an award of a 1,000 Hours Certificate, and also Operation Awards were given to a number of volunteers who provide distinguished service. There are a couple I would like to mention particularly, not because their service is more outstanding than other members but because these three particular members of the St John community live in my electorate and have served my community.

I would like to acknowledge Patrick Fitzpatrick whose service to St John has exceeded 32 years; Richard Semmler has provided more than 17 years service; and also Barbara DeBono has also provided, I think, in excess of more than 27 years service. All three work in the Gawler division of St John. Also, St John cadets were acknowledged on the day. As I said, they have actually celebrated 75 years of service, and I think there were about four cadet groupings still in operation in metropolitan Adelaide.

The St John Awards also acknowledged the significant contribution made by the young leaders, which is an award sponsored by Community CPS.

It is particularly important to acknowledge the work done by St John volunteers this year, being the International Year of Volunteers plus 10, and we are quickly coming up to International Volunteer Day. The reality is, if it was not for volunteer work, there would be a number of events in our community that would not take place because they would lack the emergency services required to ensure, particularly at sporting events, should something go wrong, that the St John people are there.

On that point, last week I was at the local BMX club event in my town and quite a few kids came off their BMX bikes and they were a bit the worse for wear. The first people on the scene were the St John people, reassuring them and providing first aid care. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful work that St John volunteers do in our community.

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