MEDIA RELEASE: Australian experience coming up for local St John volunteer
2 April 2009
A local St John ambulance officer has been selected to attend a volunteer exchange in Australia.
Peter Davidson, who is volunteer Team Manager of St John in Havelock, will travel across the Tasman for two weeks with the South Australia Ambulance Service (SAAS). Pete is the second St John member from Nelson-Marlborough in recent times to experience the exchange - in 2008, Scott Mytton of Tapawera attended.
Pete is a Flight Sergeant in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and manages the Armament Section at Base Woodbourne. He started with St John as a volunteer at St John in Blenheim before being appointed as Team Manager in Havelock in June 2008.
Pete is thrilled to be selected for the exchange programme.
"During this exchange I look forward to sharing experiences and ideas with fellow Ambulance Offices from the SAAS," says Pete. "I'm hoping to not only develop my own knowledge and skills, but also develop ways to continually improve the way we train and operate back here in New Zealand."
Pete says he is "greatly appreciative" of the opportunity. "I intend to make the most of my time in South Australia by experiencing all that the SAAS and their region have to offer."
Nelson Marlborough District Operations Manager Barry Howell congratulates Pete on his selection.
"This is a great opportunity for Pete, we're really pleased for him and wish him well. It's also recognition of the importance of volunteers in St John and the type of opportunities that are available to our staff when you are part of St John."
Pete is one of four St John volunteers nationwide who have been select from strong field of contenders, says Barry, and is the only one from the Northern Region (South Island), and the second from Nelson Marlborough in as many years.
"This shows the high calibre of St John staff that the Nelson Marlborough communities have assisting them."
The exchange programme between St John and SAAS has run for four years, says Barry. "St John ambulance officers from across the country enjoy their time and experiences in Australia. The knowledge gained, and experience, of another ambulance service is greatly beneficial to their work back in New Zealand."
SAAS offices come to New Zealand in the last quarter of the year as a reciprocal part of the exchange.
Pete's exchange is between 25 August-7 September.
For more information please contact:
- Barry Howell, District Operations Manager Nelson Marlborough, ph. (03) 546 9445, cellphone: 027 444 9500, email: barry.howell@stjohn.org.nz
- Ian Henderson, Public Relations Coordinator, (03) 353 7110 x 3222, cellphone: 0274 362 528, email: ian.henderson@stjohn.org.nz