New Emergency Ambulance for Cambridge Thanks to Grassroots Trust and Greenlea Foundation Trust

The Generation 4 emergency ambulance was blessed during a special ceremony at Hato Hone St John's Te Awamutu ambulance station last month attended by Grassroots Trust and Greenlea Foundation Trust representatives, St John Order members, ambulance staff, and fundraising team members.

The new vehicle is fitted with modern equipment including a power-load electric stretcher and stair carry chair, which will help make it easier and safer for ambulance staff to move patients in and out of the vehicle.

Modern Equipment Improves Patient Care and Staff Safety

St John has been serving New Zealand communities for over 140 years and South Waikato area operations manager Craig Scott says the team is elated with the continued generosity of Grassroots Trust and Greenlea Foundation Trust.

"We couldn't be more grateful to Grassroots Trust and Greenlea Foundation Trust. Our ambulance staff receive excellent training, but having a state-of-the-art ambulance with modern equipment is what enables them to provide the best care they can for our patients."

Longstanding Support for Hato Hone St John

Grassroots Trust has been a valued supporter of St John for many years and since 2022 they have funded more than $4.5 million for vehicles and equipment.

Their generosity has contributed toward 28 vehicles across the North Island including Generation 4 ambulances, Major Incident Support Team (MIST) vehicles, Patient Transfer Service (PTS) vehicles, Complex Patient Ambulances, and lifesaving equipment including defibrillators.

Martin Bradley, executive chairman of Grassroots Trust Limited, says the organisation is proud of its long running and significant contribution to Hato Hone St John.

"We recognise the vital lifesaving working that ambulance officers carry out in our communities every day and we want to make a tangible and meaningful difference that honours their work while benefiting as many people as we can."

Greenlea Foundation Trust Continues Community Investment

Greg Clark, livestock manager Greenlea Premier Meats, handed over the keys to the new Generation 4 ambulance, alongside Kevin Burgess, MNZM, director of Grassroots Trust LTD.

The Greenlea Foundation Trust is an ongoing advocate of Hato Hone St John, having provided funding for new ambulances, a health shuttle and emergency ambulance equipment.

"The Greenlea Foundation Trust is honoured to partner with Grassroots Trust to provide an ambulance for the Cambridge community," says Aaron Craig, general manager of Greenlea Premier Meats.

“Greenlea established the Foundation in 2011 to support the range of charitable initiatives across the communities that have been the cornerstone of Greenlea’s business for the past thirty-plus years.”

Workload in the Waikato region has been rising year on year, with more 50,900 emergency ambulance callouts across the region last year. In the lifetime of the new ambulance, it is expected to travel half a million kilometres and respond to over 30,000 incidents.