David Bradbury (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to pay tribute to a number of hard-working and selfless volunteers in my community. Two men from the electorate of Lindsay—Malcolm Towle, of Kingswood, and Mark Hutchings, of St Marys—were this year admitted as Officers of the Order of St John. The Order of St John, which is invested on its recipients by the Governor, recognises outstanding volunteers and their service to St John Ambulance. Malcolm has been part of the St John Ambulance service since 1996, when he joined the Penrith Division. He became Divisional Officer-in-Charge in 1998 and Divisional Superintendent in 2005. Mark joined the St John Ambulance service in 1989 and has played a key role in training new volunteers. He is currently the organisation’s State Staff Officer-Cadets.

Combined, both men have contributed more than 21,000 hours to volunteering for St John Ambulance—the equivalent of every weekend of the year for eight years. As volunteers for St John Ambulance, Malcolm and Mark have helped to care for complete strangers in need of medical attention and have trained others in first aid and resuscitation. As Divisional President of the St Marys cadets of St John ambulance, I take this opportunity to congratulate not only Malcolm and Mark but all the volunteers at St John Ambulance, including the St Marys cadets, for their many hours of service to the community and for their dedication to helping others.