Passion becomes pride

Wanganui's Mel Chittenden. Photo/Stuart Munro

Cardiac arrest or cut finger, Mel Chittenden is here to help.

The Wanganui woman has been a St John paramedic for nearly 20 years but the path to this line of work was laid out at a young age.

Ms Chittenden always enjoyed watching medical shows on TV and joined the St John cadets when she was eight.

"I wasn't a sporty kid so my parents encouraged me to join St John."

From there she moved up to helping at events and, after finishing school, qualified to be a paramedic. She began as an ambulance officer in 1997.

Her learning has continued since and she is working on her final studies to become a qualified intensive-care paramedic.

The most rewarding part was seeing people in better health after being dealt with by St John.

"There is not one thing or one job I would turn down," she said.

"There are jobs that you don't win [but as long as] you can put your hand on your heart and say you did your best."

Originally from Otaki, Ms Chittenden has been in Wanganui for two and a half years. She plans to stay in the job as long as she can and in the medical field forever. She has been nominated in the emergency services section of the Pride of New Zealand awards.

"I wasn't expecting to be rewarded for something I enjoy and do every day."