St John Helensville will celebrate 50 years of service to the Helensville community this year and 30 years of St John Youth. We would love to hear from anyone who has a story to tell - ambulance officers, volunteers, youth, youth leaders and the community who may have been recipients of or witnessed St John services.
Please also let us know if you would be interested in a reunion/ celebratory event, you may catch up with an old friend you lost contact with.
Please email your stories and photos or just contact details to Sheryl.pawley@stjohn.org.nz, Sheryl is the Helensville St John Youth Divisional manager and a Helensville support committee member who, along with others, would like to create 50th and 30th anniversary records and celebratory event.
The Helensville Sub Centre was formed on 18 April 1968 (Area Committee) as a precursor to an Ambulance service, which started with 2 ambulance officers in late 1968
The ambulance station was opened with much fanfare on 24 May 1969 (photo attached with Sir Arthur Porritt, Horace Kirk Chairman Auckland region and Mayor G Russell)
An adult division was started in 1972 but only lasted a short time and the 2 remaining members met for many years with Taupaki Cadet Division but did duty in Helensville.
Helensville Combined Division was registered 1 October 1988 with 17 adults and 9 cadets which included 5 transferred from Taupaki. Superintendent was Bridget Ashton.
First member admitted to the Order from Helensville Area, Roy Young MStJ. Roy was one of the 1972 ‘pioneers’ and was still active until around 2011. He died in 2014.
