Humble heroes named St John WA’s volunteers of the year  

The extraordinary contributions of St John WA volunteers were celebrated at the annual Experience awards ceremony.  

The awards held on August 8, were an opportunity to recognise the more than 5000 SJWA volunteers who generously donate their time to communities across WA.  

Denmark Sub Centre chairperson Marion Macdougall was named Country Volunteer of the Year for her steady leadership and unwavering commitment to her community. 

Finalists included Kununoppin stalwart of more than 43 years Peter Geraghty and Port Hedland superstar Charlotte Newton. 

Metro Volunteer of the Year went to John Molcher from the Mandurah Community Transport Service (CTS) for his steadfast dedication to SJWA and his clients.  

Event Health Services leaders Bradley Carle and Aaron Fudge were also finalists.  

More than 140 volunteers from all corners of WA were recognised for their decades of dedication to SJWA at the ceremony, with awards honouring 10 to 55 years of service. 

Country Volunteer of the Year – Marion Macdougall, Denmark  

Marion is a true quiet achiever who leads with integrity and respect for all.  

She joined SJWA in 2008 and has shown enormous dedication to her community in operational and non-operational roles. 

Despite living 35km out of town, the Emergency Medical Technician has been active on the roster for more than 16 years, taking on several shifts a week. 

Marion stepped up as chairperson in 2016 and is committed to delivering the best ambulance service possible. 

Volunteering alongside her two daughters, Marion has contributed thousands of hours to her sub centre, sacrificing much of her personal time to ensure it runs smoothly.  

Marion is highly respected among her team and the wider community and is known for her reliability, accountability and friendly nature.  

She is the first point of contact for new volunteers and organises regular social events to make her team feel valued and engaged as the sub centre’s Community Engagement Manager. 

Faced with frequent power outages and unreliable phone coverage in the region, Marion spearheaded an initiative to install off-grid power at the sub centre. 

She headed up a building committee to add a storey to the sub centre with sleeping quarters and a meeting room after recognising the need for accommodation for visiting volunteers in the busy summer months. 

Marion was instrumental in introducing a Community Transport Service to Denmark, which now averages more than 40 jobs a month.  

She is committed to creating a resilient community by teaching first aid to locals and helping maintain the community’s automated external defibrillator (AED) network.  

Marion is chairperson of the Looking Forward Giving Back Committee, a unique initiative by Great Southern sub centres to strengthen the ambulance service across the region. 

Marion also sits on local road safety and emergency services committees and helps deliver many community initiatives including Leavers Alive Denmark. 

Despite facing significant personal challenges in recent years, Marion’s dedication to her community has been unwavering.  

She continues to make Denmark Sub Centre one of her top priorities and no matter what she is going through is always willing to help others.  

Metro Volunteer of the Year – John Molcher, CTS 

With a deep sense of compassion and dedication to others, John is a shining example of what it means to be a CTS volunteer.  

John has volunteered with SJWA for more than five years and clocked up more than 2000 hours in 2023 alone. 

He consistently goes the extra mile to ensure the safety and comfort of his clients and is the first to advocate for their welfare.  

John is regularly praised for his positive impact on clients, especially when transporting them to and from difficult appointments.  

His extraordinary dedication was recently demonstrated through the care he showed a regular client after losing her husband.  

John noticed the woman was becoming increasingly isolated, so he organised for her to receive the necessary care and assistance she needed to stay connected.   

John is also a proud representative of SJWA.  

He often attends recruitment events alongside the CTS team and is an enthusiastic voice for SJWA. 

He is a valued mentor to new trainees, welcoming them with his positive demeanour to create an environment of acceptance and support. 

John is the point of contact for the Mandurah depot CTS team, ensuring seamless communication between volunteers and managers in Perth.  

He keeps a close eye on the depot overseeing stock levels, vehicle upkeep and making sure the facilities are maintained to the highest standard.  

With meticulous attention to detail, John has established a standard of excellence and professionalism that continually exceeds expectations. 

John is committed to delivering a high-quality and efficient service and often looks for new ways to improve his productivity and minimise disruptions.  

John’s exemplary conduct not only reflects his strong personal values but shows his deep respect for the mission CTS and values SJWA. 

To volunteer visit St John Change Lives.