Flashing Lights Newsletter

Welcome from the CEO | Ross Coburn

To start the New Year off, firstly I would like to welcome everyone to what is shaping up to be a big year for St John Ambulance NT and for the Northern Territory Community as a whole.

2016 was a hectic year but one filled with many achievements and I would like to recap on some of those below: 

• We introduced our new Board and commenced the Towards 2020 Strategic Plan
• We signed a new 5 year Ambulance Service Contract (with a 5 year option) that was full of additional staffing and adequate funding to support the needs of the Community
• We opened a new Ambulance base in Humpty Doo which has also allowed us to establish a home for our regional volunteers
• The Volunteer arm was awarded the Excellence for a Large Organisation Award under the Volunteering SA/NT Annual Awards
• Through some strong lobby we were able to secure some Federal funding to build a new Volunteer/First Aid home in Alice Springs on our block adjoining the current site
• Nationally we taught our Millionth First Aid in Schools student and in the NT we trained just under 14,000 students under the same program
• Community support from our donor family continued to grow throughout the year and we held a very successful thank you dinner to all donors at Foxy Robinson’s house in late November
• We are live! On the 13th of December we received our first online Training Course booking through the St John NT website
• During the year we engaged with the Community on many occasions culminating just prior to Xmas with the Mix 104.9 Emergency Services Stuff the Bus Campaign. The local community donated more than 500 toys and gifts that were donated to the children at Royal Darwin Hospital. Other items and around $2,000 cash was delivered to the Salvation Army and Foodbank
• Plus many many more

As we lead into 2017 we trust we can service the Community well, delivering our wide range of services, improving our programs and participating in more scheduled events than ever before, including: 

• The handover of a new St John Ambulance Centre in Katherine
• Commencing the development of the Alice Springs Volunteer/First Aid Centre
• Don’t forget our biennial Charity Golf Day (May 5th) which promises to be another great day for networking and promoting the good work of St John NT

There is much to look forward to and I trust we can bring you more and more good news stories each month through these newsletters.

All the best for a fun-filled, safe and successful 2017

Best wishes, Ross 

Merit Partners Donation

Merit Partners, who are long-term supporters of St John Ambulance, generously donated a $5000 cheque to our volunteers on the 21st of December.

Commissioner Mark Ferguson gratefully accepted the cheque from Matthew Kennon. We thank Merit Partners for their ongoing support. 

National Cadet Competitions

The National Cadet Camp was held from the 5th to the 12th of January, on the Gold Coast.

Throughout the seven days, campers were split into teams, each co-existing with at least one member from each state/territory contingent.

The National Cadet First Aid Competitions were held at Movie World where the scenario story was: St John Volunteers were manning a first aid post whilst Village Roadshow Entertainment were filming a new scene for the upcoming Batman movie. 

The team scene saw 4 casualties, each with varying injuries, ranging from a haemorrhaging bleed, to a patient hyperventilating. Both the individual and cadet

leader scenarios involved two critical casualties. Prior to taking part in the clinical scenario, each state/territory competitors took part in skills and attributes, which required all competitors to make a board game and to assist in the delivery of basic first aid skills taught to children by the First Aid in School’s program. The Northern Territory team placed third. The individual representing the Northern Territory placed second, and the cadet leader placed fourth. 

The rest of the camp saw campers visit theme parks, partake in campsite activities, including high ropes, the giant swing and body boarding. Campers also took part in an amazing race type activity, starting in Tallebudgera and ending in Surfer’s Paradise. Cadets found themselves taking part interesting activities and challenges in between.

A great time had by all. I hope to see everyone at the 2018 National Cadet competitions in Adelaide. - Luke McLaughlin 

Darwin Citizen of the Year

Congratulations to Peter Poole, long term volunteer from St John Ambulance who was awarded Darwin Citizen of the Year by the Lord Mayor of Darwin, Katrina Fong Lim for his over 37 years of continuous service. Peter will be attending the official ceremony on Australia Day where he will be formally awarded.

We also congratulate Guy Andrew who was also nominated in this category and to Krystal Rose Kent who was nominated in the Young Citizen of the Year category. 

Golf Day 2017

Spaces are filling up fast for our 2017 Biennial Charity Golf Day We are still seeking sponsors for prizes and auction items for the event, if you would like to support the fundraiser and our dedicated volunteers, by entering a team, sponsoring a hole or donating a prize please contact Debbie or Kathy in Marketing by calling 8935 2580 or email marketing@stjohnnt.asn.au

Don’t forget to follow our Facebook page as we introduce this year’s sponsors. 

E-Newsletter sign-up winner

Congratulations to Satnam Singh, winner of the e-newsletter signup competition for December. Satnam has won a Personal Motoring First Aid kit valued at $38.50.

Please pass our newsletter onto friends and colleagues and encourage them to join our mailing list, they will also go in the draw to win a Personal Motoring kit.

One winner will be drawn each month.