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Medal for lifetime of service

By Tania Martin
HELPING people has always been part of Mt Evelyn St John Ambulance volunteer Doreen Humphrey’s life.
Doreen was recently presented with her 32-year service medal by Governor John Landy.
St John Ambulance is a national, charitable, volunteer-based organisation which provides first aid services at public events and in times emergency.
This volunteer organisation has provided medical assistance to the community for more than 120 years.
Doreen first got involved with St John’s at the age of 11 when she lived in England.
She said one day she went into a butcher shop and witnessed an accident that left a butcher dead after he nicked his femoral artery.
“That man died and not one person moved to help him, and from that point I wanted to helped people – to save lives,” she said.
Doreen moved with her husband, Jim and three children to Australia in 1970, and for a short time had a break from the organisation.
Originally working as a first aid volunteer, Doreen transferred across to the community care side of St John 10 years ago.
Doreen said in 1996 she, along with other volunteers, took over a project from the Rotary Club, making calico dolls for sick children.
She said 10 years ago 60 dolls per year where distributed to sick children at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Now 12,000 dolls per year are produced and sent around the world for sick children.
Doreen said the idea of the dolls is that if a child is sick and needs medical treatment, the doctor can perform the treatment on the doll showing the child what is going to happen to them.
However, she said the dolls are all made by volunteers and that tin rattling was needed to raise money to make them.
Doreen said since the success of the doll project the Mt Evelyn St John’s volunteers had started making clothes for less fortunate people.
She said a number of toys had also been collected for Christmas and it is hoped to place them under the Kmart wishing tree.

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