Eketāhuna Ambulance Volunteer Honoured By Minister Of Health

Hato Hone St John is proud to celebrate its Eketāhuna ambulance officer Debbie Paterson, who has been awarded a Minister of Health Volunteer Award for long service.

The annual awards recognise individuals and groups who make an outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s health system.

Debbie Paterson was presented with the honour by Minister of Health Hon Simeon Brown, in a ceremony on 23 April at the Beehive in Wellington.

Debbie, whose service to the emergency ambulance service spans 27 years, has held many volunteer roles including first responder, emergency medical technician, operations team leader, and station manager. Since 2022, Debbie has operated the volunteer-led first response unit (FRU) in Eketāhuna and is currently the sole volunteer ambulance officer in the town.

“Debbie is incredibly crucial to the communities she serves, as the Eketāhuna FRU is only dispatched if she is available,” says Michelle Gillman, Hato Hone St John Volunteer Support Manager - Central District, who nominated Debbie for the award.

“Fortunately, Debbie is there to respond most of the time and her hard mahi is evident in the FRU’s high turnout rate. Debbie attends the majority of medical and traumatic emergencies in Eketāhuna and surrounding areas, which directly improves patient outcomes and strengthens the safety of the community.

“The Eketāhuna FRU forms part of a wider network of emergency vehicles supporting the community, including ambulances from Woodville, Dannevirke and Palmerston North. Debbie’s response provides early local care before an ambulance arrives. She makes herself available 24/7 and that level of dedication is extraordinary,” says Ms Gillman.

Peter Bradley, Hato Hone St John Chief Executive says, “Year after year, Debbie continues to demonstrate her unwavering loyalty to her community through her dedication and commitment.

“Debbie embodies the spirit of volunteerism by giving her time and skills to ensure timely access to health care in her community. She is a true ambassador for our organisation, and it’s wonderful to see her efforts rewarded in this way.”

Extremely humbled by the award, Debbie Paterson says, “I'm overwhelmed by the honour, but I just get on with it."

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