St Johns Ambulance

**Fast Facts**
Type of organisation:	Community Service
Street name:	Railway
Street suffix:	Terrace
Town or locality:	Mallala
Date established:	1962
Business or purpose:	Local ambulance service

Loading map...

An inaugural first aid course in Mallala was run by Drs John and Jeannette Linn in 1962. This same year circulars were sent out to the residents of the Mallala area seeking interest in the formation of a local ambulance service. A meeting was held on 9 August 1962, attended by 36 people, including Messrs Berry and Lewin from St Johns Ambulance Headquarters.

A committee was formed, and on 23 August 1962 the first training night was held in the RSL clubrooms.

In December that year, the first ambulance, a Holden Van was delivered, and this was housed in the Council yard.

In 1964, the Council gave a piece of land adjacent to the CFS station in Aerodrome Road for a St Johns Ambulance Centre. Constructed by voluntary labour, this first building was officially opened in February 1965.

The Mallala service was formed into a St Johns Combined Division in February 1965, and a Cadet section was formed and attached to the adult Division.

With the growth of the Division, a new Ambulance building was required, and in 1975 the new centre, with large training / meeting room and garage space for the ambulance, was built on land on the corner of Adelaide Road and Railway Terrace and opened by the Governor of South Australia, Sir Mark Oliphant.

In 1990 St Johns and the South Australia Ambulance Service became two separate entities, and members could choose to be a member of either organisation, or both. St Johns teach first aid to the community and do public duties, and the ambulance service mans the ambulance, and attends racetrack duties. SAAS members wear green uniforms which is the universal medical colour.

In 1996 Mallala was issued with another ambulance to cover racetrack duties and a second ambulance bay was constructed. Many people have been issued with 15-year long service medals, and then 5 yearly bars. Many other people, too numerous to mention, have made a significant contribution to St Johns and the Ambulance Service through their voluntary service