Otautau is set to celebrate 60-years of local ambulance service next month (7-8 Jun).

Until the mid-1960's the small western Southland farming and milling town relied on private vehicles, or in the case of forestry workers - the 'Mill Truck', to transport the injured or sick to the town's local doctor.

However after two separate but serious forestry accidents involving bushmen Herbert (Bert) Smitties and George Templer, Otautau GP, Lindsay Moffat, sought to find a better way to transport the wounded - 'instead of on the back of a lorry'.

In April 1964 Dr Moffatt, with the support of local builder (and volunteer rugby medic) Bill Anderson, called a meeting that was supported by twenty-five locals and included three St John members from Invercargill.

By 5th May 1964 the Otautau St John Brigade was officially established.

Many of those who attended the first meeting would go on to become life-long supporters. This included Muriel Brown would received a royal award, becoming a Member of the Order of St John in 2000.

The Otautau brigade flourished and would subsequently produce five Grand Priors, an award equivalent to a Queens Guide or Scout award.

Otautau's very first ambulance, with local Nursing Officer May Flett (centre) and local Superintendent Cam Sutherland (right). Photo: Supplied

Up until 1984 the brigade used various buildings within the town for its meetings, however following a significant $80,000 bequest from Scotts Gap farmer James (Jamie) Potts, the group finally had the funds to seek a permanent home.

A building at 199 Main Street, originally relocated from Beggs Engineering at Drummond, proved a game-changer allowing space for not only ambulances, and latterly a health shuttle, but also facilities for volunteers to train and comfortably stay overnight.

In 1988 the brigade saw an influx of new younger members, including Vic Keen, Peter Ayson and Fred Dalley, from the local Lions Club.

Ayson, who went on to be chairman for 30 years, recalls that their greatest crisis occurred in the 1990s when a severe shortage of volunteer ambulance officers threatened the station losing its ambulance and being downgraded to a first response unit.

1970's Otautau St John Ambulance chair Barry Carleton accepts the keys to a new Dodge ambulance from Hart Motors rep Ted Sharbourne, while (L-R) Fred Eason, Frances Dorricott and Graeme Froude look on.

A public meeting was called where the Otautau committee pleaded to the invited St John South Island representatives for a paid ambulance officer.

Ayson recalls that after a lot of discussion, the meeting's chairperson Southland District Council Mayor Frana Cardno said "are you going to do something or aren't you? Or are you just going to leave us out here as second-rate citizens?"

The next morning St John had found the funds to supply a paid person for one-day a week, Ayson said.

"And from there it has just grown and today we now have the ambulance manned by paid people throughout the week."

In March 2021 the station moved from solely volunteers servicing the local area to becoming a St John community hub, manned by paid officers with volunteer support, and covering wherever in Southland they are needed.

Today the station boasts four fulltime paid ambulance officers working in shifts, 7-days a week, along with five volunteers who cover evenings and night shifts.

Ambulance calls at the Otautau station average two to three a day and can take the local crew from Castlerock to Bluff, Tuatapere to Gore.

The station also now boosts a health shuttle. Funded by donations and crewed by a roster of 8 volunteers, the shuttle takes people from across western Southland to and from hospital appointments.

Otautau St John station today. Photo: Supplied

St John Otautau ambulance team leader, a Member of the Order of St John recipient and the 60th celebration spokesperson, Anna Nicolson, said next month's event had attracted a wonderful response with around 85 people expected to attend.

St John Otautau 60th reunion

To be held at the Otautau Sports Complex on 7th & 8th June 2025, from 3pm. Dinner to follow from 5pm

Past and current sponsors, supporters, cadets, committee members, shuttle drivers and ambulance officers all welcome.

RSVP: [email protected]