National Volunteer Week: St John Harvey giving back to the town through care

It is fair to say being a member of the frontline emergency services can be a challenging job.

Not everyone is able to work in an occupation where all aspects of life are encountered — the good, the bad and everything in-between.

Yet for many, it is what they do to give back to the community — volunteering their time to help out those requiring assistance.

The 28 active members of the St John WA Harvey sub-centre are no different.

Chair Paul Beech started volunteering in 1996 after he was approached to join and has not looked back since.

“It just sort of grows on you and what I did like about it was the camaraderie that was within the group,” he said.

Emergency medical responder Andrea Picks said it was after falling into a bad headspace that she started her volunteering for St John in the North West.

“I reached out to one of my friends who ended up being my man in charge up there and he asked me to come in, jump on and give it a go,” she said.

“So I did and I loved it.”

The sub-centre is asking for more volunteers to help keep the town covered during busy periods.

For more information visit stjohnwa.com.au, call 9742 1820 or visit the sub-centre on Uduc Road.