Heartfelt journeys: Inspiring volunteer stories from the Karratha Sub Centre
In the remote and picturesque town of Karratha, Western Australia, volunteers are the lifeline of the community.
Among them are dedicated individuals with St John WA (SJWA), who bring their unique backgrounds and an unwavering commitment to ensure the wellbeing of their fellow residents.
Amy Pedersen
Amy Pedersen has called Karratha home for the past 15 years, dedicating 13 of those to volunteering with SJWA.
Originally from New Zealand, Amy moved to Australia in her late teens, eventually settling in Karratha with her husband Dan and their two children, Teis and Poppy.
She works as a Registered Nurse at the local hospital, serves as the Nursing Coordinator and Clinical Facilitator for the Pilbara University Centre, and recently took on the role of Country Ambulance Transport Officer (CATO) with SJWA.
Amy’s introduction to volunteering with SJWA began with a chance meeting with another volunteer at a social event.
“I asked what she did in her down-time here, and she told me she volunteered for SJWA,” Amy said.
Inspired by this conversation, she attended the local sub centre’s training night the following week and never looked back.
“I continue to volunteer in my role as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and enjoy assisting with training as a Volunteer Development Officer (VDO),” she said.
As an EMT, Amy works alongside paramedics on 12-hour shifts, attending a variety of emergency calls.
Her nursing background greatly enhances her ability to provide comprehensive care, and she values the continuous learning the role offers.
“We attend to all manner of ambulance calls from P0 to P4 (high priority to low priority) jobs and RFDS transfers,” she said.
“Up here in the regions we are faced with many medical emergencies and no one day is the same”.
One of Amy’s most memorable experiences was when she encountered a patient she had helped early in her volunteering journey, when she was called to respond to a serious motorcycle accident.
“It was a male patient in his 30s who had hit a power pole late at night,” she said.
“He had lost most of the skin from his back and had an open fracture on his left leg, along with neurological symptoms.
“We transported him to the old Karratha Hospital and his care was taken over by the ED team.
“Around four hours later, we were called back to the hospital to transport the patient to the RFDS plane to go to Perth for surgical intervention.
“His entire family met at the airport gates to say their goodbyes as they were told his injuries were incompatible with life as he had multiple organ damage.
“Seeing the family say goodbye to this young man really stuck with me as I could see the fragility of life and how quickly things can change for someone.”
Amy said they didn’t often get feedback on how the patients were going after they sent them off, so she never knew whether he had survived.
“In a full-circle moment, almost seven years after the accident, I was working at our local hospital in Karratha when a patient with the same name and appearance came in,” she said.
“I remembered his bright blue eyes and dark features, so I asked him if he had been in hospital before.
“He then told me about the horrific motorbike accident he had survived and how he had practically broken every bone in his body and wasn’t expected to live.
“He had been in and out of hospitals for years following the accident. It was in that moment I realised this was the same person I had attended to all those years ago.
“I was amazed to know he was not only alive but was in fairly good health.
“Working in emergency services provides a constant reminder of how quickly life can change for the worse and I think that helps me stay focused on being grateful for the little things in life.”
This poignant moment underscored the impact of her work, and the profound difference volunteers can make.
Despite her busy lifestyle, Amy continues to integrate volunteering into her life.
“When you love what you do and feel a sense of belonging to your local community, you can easily make it work,” she said.
Donna Corker
At 64, Donna Corker embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and community service.
After a 27-year career in banking, Donna and her husband moved to Karratha for work.
Seeking connection and a way to give back, Donna found her calling with SJWA.
“I decided it might be a good way for me to meet people and also give back to the community,” she said.
Donna’s role as an EMT involves attending a wide range of emergency calls, often covering significant distances around Karratha.
“I volunteer for 12-hour shifts either day or night and also for backup jobs when required,” she said.
Donna said her eight years with SJWA had been “the most rewarding thing” she had ever done.
The camaraderie and support within the team have enriched her experience, providing a strong sense of community and belonging, she said.
“I often say I love volunteering more than any job I’ve been paid to do,” Donna said.
“I have met the most amazing volunteers, paramedics, patients and hospital staff.
“The role has changed my life and given me so many opportunities.
“Helping people in what is sometimes their worst moment, I never take for granted.”
Balancing her casual job at IGA and volunteering, Donna prioritises her commitment to SJWA.
“It takes me out of my comfort zone and pushes me beyond what I ever thought I’d be able to do,” she said.
“There has never been a minute I’ve regretted pushing myself.”
She recounted a particularly humorous incident involving a job at a waterhole.
“My partner and I had to wade into waist-deep water, in our uniform – boots and all – to retrieve an injured man,” she laughed.
“When we got to the hospital, we were soaking wet, covered in dirt, mud and leaf-litter.
“The nursing staff said it was the highlight of their day.”
“It wasn’t the only job involving water that my partner and I were involved in. We have a reputation now every time there’s water involved.”
These experiences highlight the unpredictable yet rewarding nature of volunteering.
Peirson Hornby
Growing up in Point Samson and living in Karratha for the past 20 years, Peirson Hornby has always harboured a desire to help others.
As the fifth of six siblings, Peirson’s journey to volunteering was deeply personal.
“My mum passed away when I was 13 years old and it opened an interest in me to learn the ins and outs of the emergency sector,” she said.
This early experience ignited her passion to become a paramedic, a dream she is actively pursuing while working in Early Childhood Education and studying for her Diploma in Emergency Healthcare.
Peirson began volunteering with SJWA in January 2023.
“I absolutely love getting to work alongside some of the best paramedics and my fellow volunteers,” she said.
“I wish I had done it sooner.”
As an Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA), Peirson handles a variety of tasks, from driving the ambulance to attending to patients, all while learning something new each shift.
Balancing her studies, work, and volunteering, Peirson finds great joy in her contributions.
“I enjoy it so much that I don’t think of it as something I have to do; it’s something I want to do,” she said.
“I’ve made it part of my everyday life and look forward to it each week.”
Her advice to those considering volunteering is straightforward: “Do it, you won’t regret it if you think it’s something you’ll enjoy. You’ll never know if you never try.”
Peirson’s dedication was recently recognised when she won the Paramedic Award at the St John Karratha Awards night.
“I was pretty stoked about that,” she said.
This accolade is a testament to her hard work and commitment to making a difference in her community.
The stories of Amy, Donna and Peirson highlight the profound impact volunteering with SJWA can have on both the volunteers and the community they serve.
Their experiences, filled with challenges, learning and moments of deep connection, underscore the vital role volunteers play throughout regional WA.
Find out more about volunteering with St John WA here.
