Martin makes honours list

RECOGNITION: Dedication to community service has seen Martin Davies make the St John Honours List. The award was unexpected Martin says.

Mangawhai Ambulance Officer, Martin Davies, is one of five St John members from Northland to be recognised for their outstanding contribution to their respective communities in the annual St John Honours List.

Along with Martin’s full-time role as an Ambulance Officer on Northland’s relief roster, he gives thousands of volunteer hours as a Volunteer Ambulance Officer for the Mangawhai Station.

Martin is the Operations Team Manager for the Mangawhai station and in this role is available 24/7 for his team and district.

He is a valuable member of both the Northland District Management Team and Bream Bay Area Committee.

A community figure, Martin has been instrumental over the last couple of years in raising funds for the proposed new station building for Mangawhai, and continues in this role.

Martin started the hugely popular Mangawhai Op Shop, successful in raising significant capital for the building project and the Bream Bay Area Committee.

St John awards recipients include both volunteers and paid staff, who work side-by-side to provide a wide range of services to New Zealanders. 

St John Northern Region General Manager Gary Salmon says St John members make an incredible contribution to New Zealand every day dedicating their time, skills and compassion to serving their local communities. 

“Our volunteers and paid staff go above and beyond the call of duty as a matter of course and that dedication is truly valued by the St John organisation and the wider community,” he says.

Award winners are nominated and go through a rigorous selection process.

“The award was very unexpected,” says Martin, “and I’m still not sure who nominated me.”

While he appreciates the recognition, Martin says he prefers to keep a low profile if he can, and just get on with the job.

As district relief there’s not a whole lot of down time.

“But you do need to learn to relax. My son has a boat so we like to fish, and with a ten acre block, well, there’s a bit of grass to mow!”

Life is a little more settled now with wife Denise co-manager of the Mangawhai St John Op Shop, which they founded a couple of years ago.

Previously in the fire service for nine years, Martin hasn’t ruled out a return to the brigade.

Other Northland St John award recipients included Michael Crosbie (Paihia), Eleanor Goble (Kaitaia), Janet James (Kerikeri), and Deborah Newton (Whangarei).