New station for Bay St John

Community support enables ambulance facility
The St John Bay of Islands area last weekend celebrated the opening of a new three-bay ambulance facility in Kawakawa, to service the Bay of Islands region.
The construction of the new $400,000 ambulance station with adjoining hall and accommodation, was only possible through the commitment of locals in raising the funds required, said chairman of St John Bay of Islands Area, Mike Crosbie.
"This really is a celebration of the community for the community," Mr Crosbie said.
"It's a wonderful facility and marvellous for the area."
The old station in Gillies Road, the main street through Kawakawa, headquarters for the Bay of Islands St John service, has been totally renovated over the past eight months. The hall is used for St John training, but is also available as a public facility.
Mr Crosbie said a community able to raise this level of funds can turn its hand to anything and this latest chapter in the history of the Bay of Islands St John service reinforces the community's long term commitment and support for the St John Ambulance service in the area.
From 1935 to 1945 a St John Brigade, made up of volunteers and hospital staff, first operated out of Moerewa, in conjunction with the Bay of Islands Hospital where the ambulance was stationed, until its closure in wartime due to lack of personnel.
In 1962 a dozen people who completed a first-aid course with the Kaikohe brigade, then the only branch between Whangarei and Kaitaia, went on to raise funds to purchase the first ambulance in the Bay of Islands area since 1941.
This was a Dodge, which cost 7000, was housed at the hospital and double crewed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Funds were raised enabling the construction of a hall and garage in Wynyard St and in 1975 the first permanent ambulance officer was appointed, working an 8am to 5pm shift with volunteers second crewing and covering the night shift.
The need for a second ambulance and 24 hour cover by permanent staff led to the purchase of the present building in 1991.
By 2002 it became apparent that the building required a substantial upgrade to provide extra staff with improved facilities.
The project was a local initiative, with preliminary drawings made by staff member Rob Thornton and local engineer Wayne Miller voluntarily producing plans and working drawings. Local contractors were responsible for the construction.
The new facility was opened on Saturday by Far North District Mayor Yvonne Sharp and the Chairman of the Northern Region St John Trust Board, Simon Caughey with a dedication by Glenis Davies.