AT 81 YEARS old, Hermilou Palmer is the longest serving member of St. John Ambulance, having been with the organisation for 52 years.
She perfected her skills in home nursing with the organisation, before going to work at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). She then joined Thermoplastics Jamaica Limited as a nurse, before retiring due to ill health two years ago.
"I was very young when I joined St. John and I loved my years working with them," she said recently after collecting an award for her years of voluntary service to the organisation.
She said that despite not being paid, she enjoyed the work. "I loved it. I was glad to work with St. John Ambulance. It was lovely", she added.
Miriam Rudd, who has worked with St. John for 48 years, echoed Mrs. Palmer's sentiments. "I loved the get together that we had with the other staff and the officers were nice to work with. Those were beautiful days; otherwise I would not have spent so many years there," the 80-year-old said.
Mrs. Palmer and Miss Rudd were among 68 St. John volunteers who were recognised for between 10 and 52 years of service at the organisation's centenary awards ceremony held at Kind's House.
Certificates of commendation were presented to members of the Police Force, the Jamaica Defence Force and the Department of Correctional Services, while certificates of appreciation were presented to friends and benefactors of the organisation.
Community of St. John Ambulance, Dr. John Hall, said that the awards ceremony was the culmination of a year of activities in celebration of St. John's 100th year of existence in Jamaica.
The organisation which started in Jamaica in 1899, teaches first aid and nursing skills to the JDF, the Police Force, the Fire Brigade and members of the public. St. John Ambulance was instrumental in helping victims of Hurricane Charlie in 1951, the 1954 polio epidemic, the Kendal train crash in 1957 and Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Officers from St. John can now be seen at public events and in public places where large crowds gather.
"It's a pleasure to be able to offer that kind service to Jamaica. It's something that we need in the home and in the public places because we are always involved wherever there are large crowds," Dr. Hall informed.
He said there were active branches of St. John in Kingston, Ocho Rios, Portland/St. Thomas, Mandeville and Savanna-la-Mar, which was re-activated earlier this year.
"The plan is that in the new millennium we will be re-activating the dormant branch in Montego Bay. With those centres re-activated and re-energised we hope that we can fan out in the various parishes and spread the word on a more equitable basis," he said.
There are about 5,000 trained people working with St. John including members of the police. He said the hope was to multiply that number significantly through the training of cadets in schools. "The hope is to have a trained first-aider in every household," he said.
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Howard Cooke, who is also President of St. John congratulated the awardees for their years of service to the organisation. He noted that they were indicative of what was good in Jamaica." You are involved in a mission to make Jamaica great. You have shown strength through service," he said.
