Aspiring First Aiders Receive Top Award

A relatively new local youth organisation, based on learning medical aid, has been presented with a prestigious award which recognises the group as a leader in their field.

Mangawhai’s St John Youth Division was awarded the ‘Division of the Year’ shield, at their first prizegiving ceremony on December 4, after being selected out of 10 groups across the Northland District.

St John Divisional Manager Anastasia Tinsel, who founded the Youth Division in October 2016, says the award was ‘a huge honour.’

“Receiving Division of the Year was amazing, especially given we had just been running for under a year.”

Held at Molesworth Drive’s St John Ambulance station, Tinsel says the prizegiving was a celebration of the young cadet’s efforts and achievements throughout 2017. The Division won a range of awards in their first ‘Northland District Penguins, Greens and Blues Competition’ in July which included the ‘Spirit of St John Trophy’, awarded to the team for exhibiting the values of St John.

“We had so much fun this year,” she says. “We’re so lucky to have such a passionate and motivated team of both cadets and leaders. Plans for next year’s adventures are already under way.”

Penguin of the Year, [6-8 year olds] went to 8 year old Gabriella Tinsel, and 16 year old Hayden Wharfe was presented with Cadet of the Year. Awards were also given for Citizenship, Leadership and demonstrating St John Values, along with Most improved, Most Promising First Aider and Most Promising Drill. Two cadets received their 100 hours Community Service Shield and Tinsel was gifted a Maori taonga for her status as Divisional Manager and District Support Officer.

The ceremony was attended by 36 cadets and six leaders as well as a number of the organisations officials including the District Youth Manager, District Cadet of the Year, Area Youth Manager, the Area Committee Chairman and Vice Chair.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to also thank the officials and Youth Division sponsors - Makir Drainage Ltd, Mangawhai Optometrists, Bream Bay St John Area Committee - for their ongoing support and sponsorship, we couldn’t have achieved what we have without them.”

For more information about St John Youth Cadets, contact Anastasia Tinsel at Anastasia.tinsel@stjohn.org.nz or 021 535 521.

Photos:

1; Big smiles from Penguin of the Year, eight year old Gabriella Tinsel.

2; A proud moment for 16 year old Hayden Wharfe aka Cadet of the Year.

3; St John’s top group from Kaiwaka to Cape Reinga – Mangawhai Youth Division.