Volunteer paramedic stays positive

DEDICATED: St John Ambulance paramedic Murray Pike - checking the blood pressure of Zane Saba during a fundraiser - has been nominated for a Pride of New Zealand Award for almost 20 years of service with St John.

Masterton's Murray Pike has always wanted to leave a positive impression on whomever he meets - so he joined the emergency services.

Mr Pike, a volunteer paramedic and team manager at St John Ambulance Service, has been nominated for a Pride of New Zealand Award, after almost 20 years of serving the Wairarapa community.

The father-of-one was nominated by an anonymous member of the public, who praised him not only for his medical work, but his dedication to training and mentoring ambulance volunteers, organising events and promotions and running public first-aid courses - which "can easily eat away 40 to 50 hours a week of his time".

"Wairarapa has been very lucky to have someone who has been able to dedicate this much time - but sadly gone totally unnoticed for what he has done," said the nominator.

Mr Pike first joined St John Ambulance as a volunteer in 1997.

"I've always wanted to ensure that anyone who comes into contact with me leaves feeling more positive," he said.

"Plus the human body is an amazing - it's a hugely diverse and interesting group of organs.

"Even small medical interventions can have a powerful outcome."

Mr Pike now volunteers as team events manager for St John, where he organises medical and ambulance personnel on stand-by at major events, such as the races at Tauherenikau, Toast Martinborough and La De Da.

He said he had "lots of funny stories" from working at festivals over the New Year period - particularly from having to notify the parents of overindulgent young party-goers.

"At these events, there's usually a lot of intoxicated young adults," said Mr Pike.

"I once treated a young girl from Napier, and I rang up her parents at 3am on New Year's Day.

"Her mother said, 'that can't be my daughter. She's staying with friends in Wellington'.

"That poor mum - it dawned on her eventually. But some parents are really adamant that it's not their kids out drinking."

Mr Pike said he feels "very humbled, and a little embarrassed" to receive a nomination.

In addition to his work at St John, Mr Pike is also a full-time employee of the NZ Fire Service, based at Masterton Fire Station.