Collie’s David Saunders awarded medal for 55 years with St John

In 1965, Collie’s David Saunders attended a first aid course with a mate, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

More than five decades later, the now-grandfather has been awarded an Ambulance Service Medal for 55 years of volunteering with St John Ambulance in Collie.

Presented at the Australia Day awards, it was an honour Mr Saunders was not expecting.

“I was just blown away,” he said.

Throughout the decades, Mr Saunders has attended countless call-outs and helped numerous families.

Among the jobs, one stands out – the time he helped deliver a baby.

“That was a thrill,” Mr Saunders said. “I was on the night shift crew and we got this job about 2am and when we got to the house the lady was in the laundry and she’d just delivered the baby, so we took over from there.

“When I got home my wife and I sat up until 5am talking about it.

“We see the end of life so much, so to see the start of life was something special.”

And in a country town like Collie, he often gets to see the results of his helping hand, bumping into people he has helped or their families, which he said was extremely rewarding.

Retiring 13 years ago, Mr Saunders has made himself available for night shifts, taking calls at all hours so volunteers who have to work the next morning do not have to.

He has also played a major role in training and bringing in new recruits, as well as renovating the Collie sub-centre, with volunteer numbers up 72 per cent since.

And at 72, the born-and-bred local has no plans on stopping any time soon.

“(I’ll continue) until my body gives up or my brain fades out,” he said. “While I can, I will.”