Marking St John’s Day!
St John’s Day provides an important opportunity to reflect on the enduring legacy of St John the Baptist and the Order’s centuries-long commitment to service.
This year, the Order of St John in Western Australia commemorated this significant date with a series of engagements bringing together Order members, Board, executive leaders, and the wider St John WA community.
From commandery to cadets and global connections, this year’s St John’s Day celebrations exemplified the Order’s legacy of faith, service, and commitment to future generations.
St John’s Day church service
The annual St John’s Day Church Service was held at St George’s Cathedral on Sunday, 22 June. This tradition honours the birth of St John the Baptist and reaffirms the collective commitment to the Order’s guiding mottoes “Pro Fide” (for the faith) and “Pro Utilitate Hominum” (for the service of humanity).
Order members and SJWA representatives gathered for a moving service steeped in symbolism. Senior members of the Order donned traditional black mantles and the Great Sword was carried before the Knight Commander, representing the Order’s roots in the Hospitallers of Jerusalem.
Immersion tour and engagement
On St John’s Day, Tuesday 24 June, the spirit of connection and purpose was brought to life through a full-day immersion tour and a special Order Engagement Session at SJWA’s Coolamon Centre.
The day began with members of the Board and Executive visiting key operational sites across metropolitan Perth, including the Central Ambulance Station, State Control Centre, and several Urgent Care locations. These visits enabled senior leaders to directly engage with frontline teams, observe operations in action, and connect with the people who embody the organisation’s mission on a daily basis.
The evening saw a Commandery touchpoint at the Coolamon Centre, where members of the Order gathered in person and online to welcome the Chancellor of the Australian Priory, Cam Oxley GCStJ. Mr Oxley was joined in discussion by Board Director Andrea LeGuier MStJ for a thought-provoking conversation on global Order activity, leadership, and the future of the organisation. His reflections, shaped by his role across 44 international St John establishments, reinforced the strength of the global network and its resonance here in Western Australia.
The Chancellor’s visit held added significance this year following his promotion to Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John, the highest honour awarded within the Order and a testament to his distinguished leadership and service. During his time in WA, he also met with Brian Gallop ASM OStJ (see picture below), recently recognised as WA’s Volunteer of the Year for his extraordinary contribution to regional ambulance services. Their meeting was a heartfelt moment of recognition and an affirmation of the impact of selfless service across generations.
Centenary of Youth
St John’s Day 2025 also marked the cententary of you for St John Ambulance Australia, which celebrated 100 years of empowering young people through the St John Youth Program.
In WA it was an opportunity reflect on the launch of the St John Academy, a modern evolution of the former Cadet Program and a renewed investment in the future of healthcare in Western Australia. Designed to equip young people with life-saving skills, confidence, and leadership, the Academy is already shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Among the many success stories is Nick Overington (see below), who began his journey with St John as a Cadet at the Melville Division in 2011. Fourteen years later, Nick is now a Paramedic in a Clinical Lead role with SJWA, supporting operational teams and responding to high-acuity emergencies as a solo responder. He is also co-host of the St John WA Clinical Practice Radio podcast.
Reflecting on his early days in the Cadet Program, Nick credits the experience with sparking his passion for healthcare and instilling lifelong values.
