Media release from St John

On Friday 30 April 2010, St John marks the 125th anniversary of the day it was founded in New Zealand.

From humble beginnings providing ambulance services on wheeled stretchers and small first aid classes in local communities, St John has grown to become one of the largest civilian service organisations in the country.

The St John Ambulance Association was formed following a community meeting in Merivale, Christchurch on 30 April 1885, to meet the community need to provide its own ambulance and first aid services.  The organisation rapidly spread and grew throughout New Zealand.

The St John Ambulance Association ran regular lectures in first aid, while St John Ambulance Brigade members attended sports matches and other events, providing first aid at the scene.

The first St John ambulances were stretchers on trolleys pushed along the road and known as hand-wheeled litters.  Horse-drawn carriages were introduced as ambulances in 1895, with the first brought over from England.  The first motor ambulance is understood to have been acquired in 1915 in Timaru.  By 1920, St John had fully embraced the motorised age.  Today St John runs a fleet of ambulances equipped with the latest medical technology.

St John now provides ambulance services to 85% of New Zealand's population, first aid training to more than 55,000 people a year and community services nationwide.  St John remains committed to its volunteer ethos, with about 8,000 volunteers working alongside about 2,000 paid staff.

To celebrate the 125 year anniversary of St John, a range of community activities are being held nationwide, including an exhibition with visual and interactive displays at Canterbury Museum, St John: 125 Years, open until 29 August.

Media inquiries, please contact:  Ali Tocker, email ali.tocker@stjohn.org.nz or phone 04 819 1131 or 027 211 2159.  Photos available on request.

To interview the author of a book published to mark the anniversary:  First to Care: 125 years of the Order of St John in New Zealand, 1885-2010 please phone author Graeme Hunt on (09) 413 7430 or 021 956 367.

Background:  St John 125 years

First to care

St John in New Zealand saw a lot of firsts, not only for this country but also, in some cases, the world.

1891:  First recorded case of St John providing medical assistance at sports games

1892:  St John Ambulance Corps in Dunedin - first registered division of the St John Ambulance Brigade outside Britain

1895:  St John set up the first registered New Zealand nursing division, and launched a home nursing service two years later

WWI:  St John raised money for field ambulances and medical supplies.  Many St John personnel served in military forces overseas

1926:  St John established the first blood collection service in New Zealand, the National Blood Transfusion Council

WWII:  St John members taught first aid at mass public classes and worked at medical centres. Many St John members served overseas

1990s-2010:  St John launched a range of new community and commercial services, including Caring Caller, Friends of the Emergency Department, St John Lifelink medical alarms and enhanced first aid training programmes

2001:  New national structure for St John came into effect, with services standardised to enhance delivery

2000-07:  St John led a nationwide project to consolidate and upgrade the country's ambulance communications centres, introducing modern, international best practice technology

2006:  A single national management structure was introduced for a number of operational responsibilities - to improve efficiency and ensure consistent, coordinated services

2006-10:  A focus on clinical excellence brought a range of improvements and innovations in clinical education, which are ongoing

2008:  St John entered a community partnership with ASB, to help save lives and build stronger communities.

2008-09:  St John contributed to Government development of a New Zealand Ambulance Service Strategy

2010:  St John celebrates its 125th anniversary with a range of community activities nationwide.