Dear Team,
April has been a month filled with the spirit of service that exemplifies St John NSW and while some of us took time over the Easter holidays and ANZAC Day long weekend to reflect and give thanks, many of our staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to support and be present in the community at a range of events.
I had the great pleasure of witnessing many of you at the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show. As one of the largest and iconic public events in Australia with over 800,000 ticketed attendees, 556 members (up 100 members on last year) served 11,436 combined hours assisting a total of 1,062 patients with 51 NSW Ambulance transports. An amazing achievement. Our members worked long hours, many across multiple shifts to treat patients with professionalism and the utmost care. The feedback from organisers was outstanding, and I couldn’t be prouder of the difference your service made. One bit of feedback from an attendee personifies our care and work as the Medical Reserve –
“On Easter Monday I attended the Sydney Royal Easter Show. I was just over 20 weeks pregnant and fainted. I felt silly, embarrassed and a waste of your talented staff’s time. However, they did not make me feel like this in the slightest. After my mother insisted on approaching them and just getting advice, moments later they were by my side and made me feel completely comfortable, every person involved was a complete joy in a situation that I was mortified I was in. They took me by golf cart with sirens to their mini hospital where they monitored me and stocked me up with fluids and treats. I am so beyond grateful for the kindness that came along with my treatment from every single person. I felt such kindness cannot go untold”.
This is the essence of St John NSW.
Later in the month, we were honoured to be invited by NSW RSL to lay a wreath at the Martin Place Cenotaph ANZAC Day Dawn Service where 26 members of Glebe Division provided event health services. A further 62 members then supported the Sydney CBD ANZAC Day March providing a combined 452 hours of service. This was in addition to the Divisional commitment to 85 ANZAC Day commemorations across NSW. Whether on duty at dawn services or taking part in local parades, our presence demonstrated our operational capability and readiness, while also showing our deep respect for those who have served. Thank you for your service.
I had the privilege along with a small contingent of St John NSW cadets and cadet leaders to meet Her Excellency The Hon Sam Mostyn AC DStJ, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia following her Investiture into The Order of St John in Canberra. Her Excellency genuinely engaged with our members and took great interest in the work of St John, particularly that of our young people, taking selfies and making us genuinely welcome in the residence. I have invited the Governor General to attend the National Cadet Camp in September.
Other opportunities that eventuated across the month as I engaged with several emergency services to explore new areas of collaboration, our friends at NSW Ambulance celebrated 130 years of service on 30 April. I wrote to Commissioner & CEO Dr Dominic Morgan ASM on behalf of St John NSW members with our congratulations on achieving this extraordinary milestone and expressed how proud we are of the contribution St John NSW makes alongside NSW Ambulance during some of our state’s largest events and most challenging times. We also executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the RFS and met with NSW SES Commissioner, Michael Wassing.
As you enjoy this latest edition of The Pulse, I hope you continue to be inspired to serve with commitment, compassion, and sense of purpose that defines our mission.
Together, we are Ready to Respond. We are the Medical Reserve.
Thank you for your service.
Dom
