St John Reporoa station manager Bruce Vermeulen (right) has been recognised today. Photo/File
A Reporoa man who was made a Member of the Order of St John said he isn't in it for the recognition.
A community meeting in 2007 to encourage volunteers started Bruce Vermeulen's involvement with St John, something which has seen him become the face of the organisation around Reporoa.
Mr Vermeulen is a highly respected member of the Reporoa community and of St John in the district.
His contribution to St John has seen him made a Member of the Order of St John at an investiture in Wellington today. The Governor General, Dame Patsy Reddy, who was also installed as the Prior of the Priory of St John in New Zealand at the ceremony, inducted Mr Vermeulen at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul.
Mr Vermeulen told the Rotorua Daily Post the honour still hadn't sunk in.
"It's an honour to be recognised for what I've done, but that's not why I do it," he said.
"I enjoy helping people and the challenge that brings. It's all been very interesting and very rewarding."
Jeremy Stubbs KStJ, chair of the Regional Honours Committee, said: "Bruce is fully committed to St John; he is passionate about providing service to his community and is the face of St John in the area."
Mr Vermeulen worked hard to obtain his EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) qualification, no mean feat when he had his own business and involved in many other community activities.
His many St John achievements include:
Being made volunteer station manager of Reporoa station
Recording more than 4000 hours of service in most years
He is a member of the local area committee
Serving as a casual officer when required
Not only does Mr Vermeulen contribute to St John but he is very involved in the wider community. He serves in the following ways and has been awarded the following awards:
Instrumental in setting up the local Foodbank
Chairman of the local Parish Council
In 2009 he received a Community Award for outstanding service to the Reporoa District and community
In 2013 he received the Rotorua Community Leadership Award for his outstanding contribution to the district and the community
He is a member of the Mountain Safety Council
He is a Justice of the Peace
Nearly 30 people were presented with awards by Dame Patsy including two new knights, Geoffrey Thomas Ridley, Christchurch, and Jeremy Gilbert Oakley Stubbs, Cambridge.
Background on Order of St John
The Order is an independent part of the New Zealand Royal Honours System and confers Membership in the Order on those who strive to fulfil its objects and purposes.
All honours and awards made by the Order are sanctioned by and made in the name of and by the authority of The Queen, who is the Sovereign Head after approval by the Grand Prior, currently the Duke of Gloucester. Admission or promotion in the Order of St John is on merit: a candidate is admitted or promoted because he or she stands out from his or her peers.
For a candidate to be promoted, it must be shown that the merits of that candidate are over and above those which might ordinarily be expected of a person in comparable circumstances. This is increasingly so the higher the Grade being contemplated. It is not necessary for a person being admitted to the Order to be a professing Christian but it is necessary for them to honour and uphold the Christian nature of the Order.
The Grades of the Order are: Bailiff and Dame Grand Cross, Knight and Dame of Justice and of Grace, Commander, Officer, and Member.