A woman's generosity has benefited the whole Dunedin community after a new, fully equipped ambulance costing $214,000 was commissioned yesterday.
The late Marjorie Joyce Pullar (92) bequeathed part of her estate to Dunedin St John and the organisation used the funds to buy the ambulance.
Miss Pullar, who was known by her second name, Joyce, was hit by a van in Moray Pl in June last year and died in hospital later that day.
Family spokeswoman Margaret Pullar said the ambulance was ''dedicated'' at the St John annual thanksgiving service in Dunedin on Sunday after being driven to Gore on Friday so 30 cousins could see what the money had bought.
''We were just thrilled that she gave her assets to St Johns,'' Mrs Pullar said.
''It [is] a joy to us all to hear that Joyce's lifelong interest in and care about others [is] continuing in such a meaningful, useful, practical way.''
Miss Pullar was ''well-known'' and ''highly respected'' in Dunedin and the gift to St John was befitting of her generosity and personality, she said.
Miss Pullar was born in Invercargill, but spent ''most of her working life'' in Dunedin as a personal secretary.
She never married and had no children.
St John fundraising and marketing manager Debbie Pipson said Miss Pullar's generosity would help in the future.
''St John is very grateful to Joyce Pullar, and the trustees of her estate, for the support shown to St John.
''It's through the support of generous people such as Joyce that we are able to provide emergency medical equipment and vehicles like this for the community.''
