Community team effort sees new outside area for St John

The generosity of a dozen local businesses has led to the installation of a huge new paved concrete area behind the Wellsford St John ambulance station.

Until last month, the area behind the station was a mess of old metal and weeds, and not much use to either St John or the Wellsford Volunteer Fire Brigade next door. However, thanks to some significant donations and discounts, St John and the brigade managed to get the new slab supplied and installed for a fraction of what it would normally cost.

As a result, the St John cadets now have somewhere to do their drills and let off steam and the fire brigade can borrow the space to wash down their trucks and equipment.

Wellsford St John president Dulcie Baker says the area had been “an absolute mess” before, and the ambulance station didn’t have the numbers to carry out the work needed by themselves.

“This was all done by volunteers,” she said. “The fire brigade has done so much, they cleared all the bamboo down by the railway as well.”

As well as the fire brigade, the St John committee wanted to thank Hammer Hardware for selling Christmas trees on its behalf, which helped pay for the project, as well as the following businesses for providing equipment and labour: McMassive Concrete, Clapham Concrete Contracting, Granotech Concrete, Firth Industries NZ, Advanced Concrete Pumping, Auckland Sheet Metals, Rhodes for Roads, Hynds, Cutz Concrete Cutting, Wyatt Landscape Supplies & Haulage and Wharehine Group.

Wellsford St John has also just purchased a new defibrillator, which they are putting outside the ambulance station for public use. “There are a few around, but most are inside premises and can’t be reached after hours,” Baker said. “We thought there’s got to be one people can use when everywhere is closed, so it will be in a locked box on our wall.”

The committee is also looking to recruit more volunteers, whether to crew the ambulance, be on the committee or join the cadet section.

“The committee meets once a month, it’s very low key,” Baker said. “We’re there to help the cadets, raise money and sell Christmas trees.”

Anyone who can help out or wants to know more can contact Dulcie Baker on 021 145 4560.

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