Richard Johnston (BMW), Steve Evans (St John) and Archbishop Sir David Moxon at the dedication ceremony last Thursday. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer
Richard Johnston (BMW), Steve Evans (St John) and Archbishop Sir David Moxon at the dedication ceremony last Thursday. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer
Waikato's Coombes Johnston BMW Dealership celebrated its 25th birthday on Thursday by gifting a lifesaving ambulance to St John.
Coombes Johnston BMW head of business Richard Johnston said his company wanted to mark its the anniversary with a donation to the community.
"We've been an integral part of the Waikato since 1997 and for our birthday celebrations we wanted to support the community within which we operate with a significant gift. What better gift is there than one that saves lives. This gift will help the dedicated and highly trained ambulance officers continue doing their valuable lifesaving work," Johnston says.
The new Generation 4 ambulance - called Waka Manaaki (to come to your assistance) - will be based in Hamilton and operate across the Waikato.
It is kitted out with a variety of equipment including a resuscitation (CPR) kit, suction unit (to remove obstructions from a person's airway), power-load stretcher, radio, mobile data terminal, first response kit and consumables, stair carry chair, scoop stretcher, traction splints (for leg injuries), extraction device (to remove foreign objects), child restraint strap and safety helmet.
Immediate past chancellor of the Order of St John Steve Evans conducted the dedication ceremony in Hamilton, saying it was a special day for St John.
Coombes Johnston BMW head of business Richard Johnston said his company wanted to mark its 25th milestone giving back to the community. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer
"Richard has been involved in the community for over 20 years and wanted to celebrate their birthday by giving back to the community. This gift will touch everybody."
He said that although St John is almost 80 per cent funded by the Ministry of Health and ACC, the charitable organisation still has to contribute between $30 and $35 million through third-party contracts and fundraising. "So St John is forever grateful for another ambulance."
Coombes Johnston friend and customer, Hamilton local Tom Watson, experienced first-hand the lifesaving services of the ambulance when he had a heart attack behind the wheel of his car.
Immediate past chancellor of the Order of St John Steve Evans said St John would forever be grateful for the new ambulance. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer
He lost consciousness, and his car crossed lanes before crashing into a building. A group of young men in a passing vehicle got him out of the car and applied CPR. St John arrived shortly after and their defibrillator got Tom's heart back into rhythm and pumping again.
He said: "St John is an integral part of our community and together with the action of others on that fateful day, community minded action saved my life. The value of their role cannot be underestimated, they are a big part of my survival and I owe my life to them."
"I applaud Coombes Johnston for their magnificent donation, it is a wonderful gesture."
St John received more than 540,000 emergency calls and treated and transported more than 460,000 patients in the past financial year.
