When Derek Hewitt’s daughter had to be flown to hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, it was the volunteers at St John Ambulance who got her to Paraburdoo Airport to meet the plane.

This inspired Derek, and for the past 18 months he has taken part as a St John Ambulance volunteer in Tom Price. Since he joined, Derek has had his own share of adventures - at one point tending to a woman with a broken leg in Karijini Gorge for over five hours, inflating her temporary leg splint every two minutes.

A Fitter and Mechanist by trade, Derek volunteers maintaining two of the ambulances each week, as well as driving them during call-outs. He is also completing the rigorous training provided by St John Ambulance so he can further volunteer as an ambulance attendant.

Derek works with Rio Tinto Iron Ore as a Supervisor of Apprentice Training. He also volunteers operating the Drive-In projector in Tom Price, and is involved helping with the local T-Ball organisation.

Other Rio Tinto employees involved with St John Ambulance include President Steve Eames, Carol Scarce, Michelle Rolston and Michael Napier. Rio Tinto supports the organisation and these volunteers by purchasing the ambulances and funding major services of the vehicles.

The role of the St John Ambulance volunteers in transferring patients to Tom Price Hospital or Paraburdoo Airport to meet the Royal Flying Doctor Service is vital to Tom Price. By contributing to the local community, employees like Derek are helping to create a stronger and more sustainable Western Australia. For Derek however, the greatest reward is hearing the “thank you” from those he has helped.