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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-07-03 Daily Xml
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St John Ambulance SA

Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (15:43): St John Ambulance SA is a wonderful volunteer organisation with its roots in a movement stemming right back to the crusades when the Knights of St John cared for the sick and injured pilgrims of Jerusalem nearly 1,000 years ago.

As St John Ambulance evolved, it drew its inspiration from the example of the knights and provided volunteer first aid throughout the industrialised world of the 19th century. The Australian movement has been underway since 1883. Today, we see highly trained and well-resourced volunteers providing first aid and support at thousands of community events across the country, as well as community support in their social inclusion programs. While volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, including doctors, nurses and paid paramedics, many are also tradies, retail workers and other completely unrelated professionals to health care.

The Noarlunga ambulance centre opened in about 1979, and it was not long after that I joined the division as a junior cadet. I had an inkling that nursing was a career for me, and being a cadet really helped to affirm my thinking. I know that the member for Waite in this place was a St John cadet, and I acknowledge also that the Hon. Andrew McLachlan of the other place was actually the treasurer and later a chair of the St John board prior to his election to parliament.

Young people continue to be a vital part of the St John movement, with nearly 50 per cent of the membership aged under 25. Now there are opportunities for juniors aged eight to 11, as well as cadets aged 11 to 17. There is a whole range of proficiencies and training combined with hands-on learning opportunities, which all help to build confidence and skills that support the developing first aiders. These skills are easily transferable into the workplace and the broader community. It is the intention of the cadet program that members are equipped with high-quality first-aid skills, along with a sound understanding of community.

While most will transition through the program all exit as well-rounded and high-standing members of their community at whatever point they do leave as volunteers. I remember, very fondly, participating in the volunteer support of many community events, as well as attending the annual camp held for many years at Angaston at its oval. Hundreds of us would travel by train together for the October long weekend filled with lots of activities that saw lifetime friendships develop.

For many years, St John has offered a number of awards and competition opportunities also which are aimed at testing its members; these I also remember very fondly. So, when I was invited to be part of the judging panel for the recent St John Ambulance Cadet and Youth Leader of the Year Awards held at Noarlunga, I was only too happy to accept. In South Australia, there are three awards available to young people involved in cadet divisions to recognise and acknowledge contributions made by the individuals towards their youth programs.

These awards are given to candidates that go above and beyond in their division, show exceptional leadership qualities or demonstrate the values of St John within the community. The awards are Junior of the Year, Cadet of the Year and Youth Leader of the Year. Members are nominated by their leaders as a result of their outstanding commitment to the values of St John and their contribution to their community, with winners chosen through a merit-based interview process.

I was part of a community interview panel from a variety of backgrounds, which included Alan Edge, a St John Ambulance volunteer trainer; Frank Owen of the Morphett Vale RSL; and Ian MacGeachie, an area manager of St John Ambulance volunteers in the south. I am pleased to report that, from a very fine field of candidates, Leilani Boag won the Metro South Cadet of the Year while Gurtej Sohal won the Metro North Cadet of the Year. Other winners included Emma Guthberlet from the Noarlunga Cadet Division as Youth Leader of the Year and Lakshan Rajkumat from the Glenelg Cadet Division as Junior of the Year. They were all really impressive.

I would like to congratulate the other finalists as well: Lillith Malloy, Nate Wallace and Caleb Fontesca. I would like to place on record my thanks to all leaders and volunteers who made the awards as well as the additional community activities held on the day such a success. It truly was a wonderful example of the way that our young people and volunteers work together to create opportunities and strengthen our community.

Some incredible values and skills were imparted to me by some amazing role models and mentors, some of whom still live in my electorate and with whom I have met up recently. I would like to place on record my thanks to Peter and Jenny Croft and Sheila Hayes. I also have fond memories of leadership from Katie Wye and Lyn Dansie. Keep going, St John.

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