Rotorua man donates new $225k ambulance in honour of late wife

Noel Hostick, front, has donated a new ambulance to St John in honour of his late wife Bessie. Photo/Stephen Parker

When he lost his wife to illness earlier this year, Rotorua man Noel Hostick found himself in the position to make a "significant" donation to St John.

Yesterday, in an official dedication ceremony, Hostick donated a brand new ambulance, worth $225,000, to St John Rotorua.

When his wife Bessie died in January, Hostick made a trip to his share broker to transfer her shares into his name.

He was left "staggered" by the amount the shares were now worth and was asked by his share broker what he planned to do with it.

"I pulled out the will, made amendments to include everybody and then was left wondering what to do with the balance," he said.

"I wanted to do something for the good of society, something everyone could benefit from.

Hostick said Bessie always had a soft spot for St John and over the years the couple had made donations when they could.

"Bessie and I had a good life and it's our wish, her wish, to do something to benefit the citizens of Rotorua."

He blames his friend, a knight of St John, Derek Lang for putting the idea of an ambulance in his head.

"I rang him and asked what it would cost to put a new ambulance on the road and he said it would be about $100,000.

"A few days later he called me back with the official amount, which was much higher, but of course I still said yes."

Noel Hostick, front, has donated a new ambulance to St John in honour of his late wife Bessie. Photo/Stephen Parker

The actual cost of the new ambulance came in at about $225,000.

About 30 people gathered in the ambulance bay to see the official dedication ceremony and it was Lang who accepted the keys.

"What if I've changed my mind," Noel joked as he was asked to do the official handover.

He had invited his neighbours, golfing friends and relatives to the dedication and joked that when he had a heart attack and when Bessie "got crook" he discovered who the best cooks in the neighbourhood were.

"I'm so appreciative of the honour St John has given me through this occasion, everybody has been so kind.

"Bessie would be proud that we've done something for society.

"Maybe I am a silly old fool, but I think you can't keep taking from the community, you have to give something back and I was lucky to be in a position where I can and it's lovely to know that Bessie will be honoured."

Old golfing partner Geoff Ralph said he was truly proud to be friends with Hostick, and said he was almost in tears as he shook his hand.

"This is a noble thing to do, it is absolutely magnificent.

"He makes Rotorua a great place to live."

Lang said the new ambulance was a "significant gift" and not one the organisation received often.

"This will replace one of the existing ambulances and then that one will go somewhere else that needs it."