Trudy keen to pass on her knowledge

CHAMPION OF VOLUNTEERS: Trudy Taylor has been singled out for the help she gives those starting out in St John and Red Cross. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO200615WCSMTRUDY1

Trudy Taylor has worked her way up from volunteering to a career in management at St John - which is why she puts so much energy into passing on her knowledge and experience to others.

Trudy has been Wanganui St John station manager for two years. She joined the organisation as a volunteer ambulance officer in 1998 and became a paid officer in 2004, working in Marton and Wanganui.

"And you never forget your roots."

She was nominated for a Pride of New Zealand award by a Red Cross team member, who cited her for "showing me everything I've needed to know".

"She's like a camp mother to every one in our team. She's always smiling and laughing [and] she's inspired me to aim further in life aim ... for my big goals and objectives, not just my little ones."

Trudy says her jobs is tough but it also has its better days - and top of that list is the babies she has delivered as an ambulance officer.

"Oh yes, that's absolutely hands on. I've delivered six and those are the very good days."

While the screaming sirens and racing ambulances are the public perception of St John, 70 per cent of call outs are medical, 10 per cent transfers and just 20 per cent emergencies.

It is the "huge variety" in the call-outs that makes Trudy thrive in her work. She recently went over a "day in the life" for a talk to the Ulysses Motorcycle Club and on that particular day she had been to 10 jobs, all different.

But she does agree some parts of working for St John are eye opening.

"I do see horrendous things. I think the level of domestic violence has gone up since I started. In the last 10 years, there's been a huge rise."

She also thinks the job has got a lot busier, perhaps because people are going to the doctor less often because of cost and health issues turn into emergencies.

"Rather than early evaluation and treatment, people wait and it becomes critical."

Trudy notes personality is part of good practice for St John.

"Reassurance can be 80 per cent of the job. It's good to have a sense of humour with people, that puts them at ease."

Trudy loves her job and is keen to pass her passion on, as well as her skills, to those just starting out.

"And we have had lots of success stories."

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