Feds make $54k grant to St John

Federated Farmers made several grants from their Adverse Events Trust in September 2012, and St John was one of the recipients. The money came from individual farmers, meat company workers and meat and wool companies.

Federated Farmers' representatives Katie Milne (National Board Member) and John Hartnell (Chairman of the Bee Industry Group) visited the St John Regional Operations Centre to see the work of the ambulance communications centre, as well as have a look at a new ambulance.

Hartnell was recently awarded made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to bee keeping and also the community, especially for his work in helping to organise the Federated Farmers' Farmy Army after the February 2011 earthquake.

Federated Farmers National President Bruce Wills, was delighted St John was the recipient of the Trust's final and largest donation.

"As the first responder St John was the right choice to conclude our current efforts to support Christchurch," Wills says. "This donation is important because it will help St John to rebuild its emergency response resources. St John is a New Zealand institution and when the chips are down, it is always there for rural and urban alike."

St John Fundraising Manager Sarah Wilkinson says St John and Federated Farmers both have significant roles in rural communities across New Zealand.

"We'd like to thank John, Katie and the Federated Farmers teams for their support of us. Our organisation and Federated Farmers both know the challenges of working in a rural setting, and both organisations know how important the strong support and links within those communities are.

"St John is incredibly grateful to Federated Farmers and all their members who contributed for this support."

Pictured: St John Customers and Services Manager Christine Prince, Federated Farmers National Board Member Katie Milne, Chairman of the Bee Industry Group John Hartnell, and Emergency Medical Technician Grant Dewar.