New Base For St John Ambulance Service In Nelson

New base for St John Ambulance Service

Nelson's St John Ambulance Service is to move to a new base in lower Queen Street, Richmond, on land owned by Nelson Pine Industries, across the road from their wood processing plant.

The ambulance service was outgrowing its present Croucher Street site, and Regional Operations Manager Barry Howell said the new site would put all Nelson -Tasman ambulance emergency resources in paramount positioning.

"This site gives us the space to effectively manage the entire region," he said. "Sixty percent of our 7000 call-outs per year are west of Nelson, so the site on Lower Queen Street couldn't be more perfect. This is a very generous offer that will also alleviate current rental and storage costs."

Murray Sturgeon, Managing Director of Nelson Pine Industries said offering the land to the St John's Ambulance Service fitted in with the company's record of 'corporate citizenship'.

"We have sponsorship arrangements in place to support sports, the arts and events, and we must have donated board to every scout den and school in the region," he said, "When I was approached by St John with a request for money to help them relocate, the offer of the land and building we own in Lower Queen Street seemed to be a better solution."

The existing building on the site will be refurbished to house the ambulances, and St John is planning to construct a base station.

Mr Sturgeon said a perpetual term of entitlement was being granted to St John, leaving the land and existing building to return to Nelson Pine Industries Ltd should the situation change.

This is St John Week and there is a stand in the Richmond Mall highlighting Life Link Alarms, St John Youth, First Aid training and sales, and other St John services including Caring Caller, the Health Shuttle and Friends of the Emergency Department. People will also be able to purchase membership to the local St John Supporter scheme

During the week appeal envelopes will be delivered to all Nelson and Richmond households and there will be collectors in the main streets of Richmond and Nelson. The aim this year is for $1 per person, and all funds raised stay in the region to grow the service here. Appeal envelopes will be delivered to businesses on Monday with the prize of a St John First Aid kit for the business which comes up with the most innovative collection.

Other activities this week include an Adopt an Ambulance coin trail at Richmond School on Tuesday and a church service at the Cathedral at 10am Sunday 24th of June, which is patron St John the Baptist's day.

St John Nelson is celebrating 75 years in Nelson this year.

ENDS

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