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The generosity of the late Steven Berger has delivered an easier ride for patients needing transport from the Rodney area to hospital.
Its modern equipment will also make it easier for St John staff to manage and care for people.
Berger, who died nearly three years ago aged 70, left substantial donations in his estate to three emergency and medical care organisations – the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Harbour Hospice Warkworth Wellsford and Hato Hone St John.
On February 9, his generosity was recognised when a new ambulance, worth $250,000, was blessed at the Warkworth Ambulance Station.
Hato Hone St John Northern Regional Trust Board patron Richard Blundell said NZ had a world class ambulance service and St John was the largest first aid trainer in NZ.
He said of the 60 or so ambulance blessings he had attended, this was the first from an estate.
“An ambulance is a gift that keeps on giving,” he said. “Over the next eight years, this ambulance, with Steven’s name on it, will attend thousands of callouts. It is an incredibly special donation and one that we really appreciate.”
St John Warkworth area committee treasurer Richard Gerard said the new ambulance would be invaluable in a district that was growing quickly.
Warkworth attended 1703 incidents last year, averaging four to five jobs a day.
Rodney/Northland area operations manager Casey Stark-Allen said the new Generation 4.1 ambulance had many features that would benefit ambulance officers, including a power load stretcher, as well as better air conditioning and ventilation.
The ambulance will be one of two based at the Warkworth station.
Berger was born in Ahuroa, but grew up on a family farm on the corner of Green and Matakana Roads. He was a Jack of many trades, working as a labourer for most of his life. He also worked for Times Media and New World. His brother Ron, who was at the blessing, said his brother loved to cook and owned Tony’s Fish Shop in Warkworth for a while.
Volunteering for St John
As a charity, Hato Hone St John is always keen to recruit volunteers to help it do its job. There are currently about 15 volunteers in the Warkworth/Silverdale group. They work alongside staff in a range of roles, from ambulance operations to providing caring caller services, pet therapy and Friends of the Emergency Department. Full training is provided to the level of service a volunteer can contribute. Generally, volunteers work a four-hour shift once a week or once a fortnight and rosters are pre-organised, so volunteers know exactly when they are required. Enquiries can be made at the Warkworth station or by phoning 0800 ST JOHN (785 646)
