Former Dunedin woman Sonya Gale (27) was admitted as a Member of the Order of St John at Dunedin's Knox Church yesterday at an investiture ceremony presided over by Governor-General and St John Prior Anand Satyanand.
Miss Gale's involvement with St John began at age 6.
After rising through child and youth ranks, in her early 20s she was district youth manager supporting divisional managers and six Otago youth divisions and also started a new youth division in Dunedin.
Educated at Queens High School and the University of Otago, where she studied psychology and education, she is now a St John projects officer based in Auckland.
"It has always been a good challenge and the social side has been really good, too," she said.
St John communications and promotions co-ordinator Alena Lynch, of Dunedin, said while many volunteers stayed in the organisation for long periods, it was unusual for someone as young as Miss Gale to be admitted as a member of the order.
There were 36 applicants for admission to the order at yesterday's ceremony.
