There are some amazing people in this little town of Guyra, doing things for others with no thought or desire for recognition, adulation or remuneration. We have a large number of people in this district who undertake various volunteer roles that benefit individuals and the overall community. Many of these people work for organisations that are well known to the community with other volunteers working in areas or roles that people may not even realise exist.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Of course it must be our duty as a functioning community to at times give these people the recognition and adulation that they often try to avoid. Two well-known Guyra residents who have maintained various volunteer positions within the Guyra community over long periods of time have also held a position as Honorary Ambulance Officer with the New South Wales Ambulance Service for many years.
Mr Geoffrey Thrift joined the Armidale District Ambulance service, which several years later came to be called the Ambulance Service of NSW, as an unpaid assistant in 1966 and has remained an Ambulance Honorary Officer since that time, a period of over almost forty eight years. Geoff has maintained his service training throughout this period and only finds his position no longer required due to a changing of the Services requirements in relation to the use of volunteers.
Mr Collon Vanderwolf joined the Ambulance Service as an Honorary in 1988 and has remained a valued member since that time, a period of twenty six years. Training over this time included travelling to the Ambulance training unit at Gilgandra as well as on station training with the local Ambulance Officers in Guyra. High standards of first aid training were required by both for their ongoing association with the Service.
A service was recently held at Guyra Ambulance Station for both members to thank them for their years of assistance and to award them their Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Mr Thrift received his Long Service Medal with three clasps for over 47 years of service with Mr Vanderwolf receiving his Long Service Medal with one clasp for over 25 years of service.
Mrs Susan Webster the Ambulance Service of NSW’s operational Support Manager thanked both for their long and valued service to the community of Guyra and the Ambulance Service of NSW. A thank you that I am sure would be afforded to both gentlemen by their local community here in Guyra.
