A new ambulance is ready to support the Piako community thanks to generous funding from Grassroots Trust and Greenlea Foundation Trust.
The Generation 4 emergency ambulance, which will operate from Morrinsville, was blessed during a special ceremony at Hato Hone St John’s Morrinsville ambulance station on 23 February.
The event was attended by invited guests, Hato Hone St John Order members and ambulance staff and volunteers.
The new frontline emergency ambulance is fitted with modern equipment such as a power-load electric stretcher and stair carry chair, which help make it easier and safer to move patients in and out of the vehicle.
Hugh Davison, Hato Hone St John Area Operations Manager – Waikato, says the team in Morrinsville is extremely grateful for the new vehicle and the continued support of Grassroots Trust and Greenlea Foundation Trust.
“Having this brand-new ambulance is a wonderful gift to our community, and my team and I are humbled by the generosity of Grassroots Trust and Greenlea Foundation Trust for providing this valuable resource to our staff and the communities we serve,” Mr Davison says.
Grassroots Trust has been a valued supporter of Hato Hone St John for many years and since 2022, the Trust and Grassroots Trust Central has granted more than $2 million for vehicles and equipment to Hato Hone St John, including Generation 4 ambulances for Morrinsville, Te Awamutu, Whakatane and Gisborne, an Event Health Services ambulance for Hamilton, Major Incident Support Team (MIST) vehicles for Dunedin and Gisborne, and lifting chairs for Northland.
Kevin Burgess, a director of Grassroots Trust, says the organisation is proud to be a supporter of Hato Hone St John across the motu. “The commitment shown by the staff and volunteers of Hato Hone St John should be an inspiration to the whole community.”
The Greenlea Trust is an ongoing advocate of Hato Hone St John, having provided funding for new ambulances, a health shuttle and emergency ambulance equipment.
Tony Egan, Managing Director of Greenlea Premier Meats, who sits on the board of the Greenlea Foundation, says the company is a family-owned business and everything it does exemplifies its core values of integrity, excellence, and innovation.