The Order of St John priory dean Simon Rae, who began his career with St John in Balclutha, was among the distinguished guests at this weekend's 75th anniversary celebrations of the Clutha area Order of St John.
Members of the region's emergency services met at the Memorial Hall on Saturday night, to enjoy the glitz and glamour of the Queenstown Emergency Services Ball 2010.
The thoughts of volunteers celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Maniototo area St John at the weekend were focused on their colleagues in Christchurch and at Fox Glacier.
Unlawfully taking an ambulance may have been only a prank, but St John says it is more than happy police are prosecuting the man allegedly responsible.
It is aware of the best nearest resources, is constantly updating its information and is still unlikely to dispatch a local helicopter to the aid of people on Stewart Island who suffer a medical event or accident, St John says.
When Graham Hill became involved with St John Waitaki in Kurow, he never thought he would still be there 39 years later.
We see them in the street, sometimes with lights flashing and sirens blaring. We see them on television attending various disasters, and those who find themselves the first at the scene of a car accident are certainly glad to see them come around the corner.
Wanaka St John's new $200,000 Mercedes Benz ambulance was welcomed by the community at a special dedication ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
Wakatipu St John has a new $170,000 four-wheel-drive ambulance, which was commissioned at a dedication service in Queenstown on Friday.
St John staff in the South will be prepared for almost any scenario in a few weeks, after taking delivery of 16 large blue bins that will each hold enough supplies to triage 10 people in a mass injury emergency.
