By Natasha Fujimoto
IN a monumental effort, 90 St John Ambulance volunteers have completed three and a half weeks of providing care and assistance for flood affected Victorians, clocking up an incredible 4,000 hours of support.
Working twelve-hour shifts in pairs, volunteers treated 647 patients in flood relief hubs for a range of clinical and non-clinical needs from attending to first aid incidents, including two cardiac related issues, to providing psychological support.
Having experienced the 1974 floods, St John Ambulance volunteer, Dr Peter Leffler knew only too well the emotional toll of losing one’s property.
Through nine, twelve-hour shifts at Shepparton’s McIntosh Relief Centre, the 75-year-old doctor offered support wherever he could.
“There was a lot of sadness and depression, and people including volunteers, were very tired.
“As a doctor of 50 years I went up to people sitting alone and offered a chat; it’s so important to let it out,” Dr Leffler said.
Despite funding its own emergency responses to calamities such as bushfires, pandemics and floods, CEO of St John’s Ambulance, Gordon Botwright said the service has had to reach out to the state government in recent times, to ensure its future emergency preparedness.
“St John Ambulance is committed to serving the community in an emergency…but it costs us millions of dollars to train, support and equip volunteers so they are capable and ready to respond in a crisis.
“With commercial uncertainty, that sits with the economy, we have called on the Andrews Government and opposition for support, but as of yet, we have not received any commitments of funding,” Mr Botwright said.
