News

Usually, the Goldfields town of Coolgardie has around 850 residents. When the Outback Festival is on it’s more like 7,850. People come from across WA to celebrate life in the ochre, pitching up and staying for the weekend. There’s bush cooking, blacksmithing and bulldozer racing by day, and boot scooting into the night. St John…

Fifty kilometres outside Kalgoorlie, Starlink is the only way to connect to the world. Major networks disappear with sealed roads. Gold prospectors check their satellite phones and snakebite kits and hope to return a little richer. Edie, Marjorie and Nikki offer visitors the chance to dig for something different. Honey ants are also shimmery, elusive…

“It’s not a matter of if you get hurt. It’s when, and how much.” In the South West town of Balingup, Alpin Grant is King. He and his wife, Queen Laura, represent the monarchy at the world-famous Balingup Medieval Carnivale. The event runs for one weekend each year, but a King’s responsibilities — training, researching, creating —…

Just outside Margaret River, in Bramley National Park, are the Wooditjup Trails. Created by locals, they are a challenge for experienced downhill riders and a training ground for the next generation. Meg, 15, and Sage, 13, know them back to front. Trails like Golden Carrot, Cut Cork, High Horse, and Cash and Karri have been…

Lawnmowers usually try for chequerboard-straight strips. These ones follow the racing line. Starting at 17cc, the vehicles of The Western Australian Mower Racing Association (WAMRA) top out at 450cc. Tuned for the track, the smaller capacity engines are quick, and the bigger ones can hit 110kph. No blades and, sometimes, no brakes. The only thing…

If you are still of the belief that you can suck the venom out from a snake bite, or that butter will soothe a burn, read on. Please. We’re begging you. It’s been a long time since mouldy bread was suggested as infection prevention and thankfully, the days of bloodletting and trepanning are long gone.…

St John WA partnered with Bruce Rock Engineering this year for R U OK? Day with the aim of helping to build a healthy and connected community. A series of talks focussed on mental health took place around the State, with SJWA speakers running sessions in Forrestfield and Bruce Rock. “Mental health matters just as…

The Mid West town of Mullewa is known for its wildflowers and heritage buildings.  It also has its very own St John WA sub centre and this year marks 80 years of service to the local community and surrounding areas.  An article in the Geraldton Guardian and Express from June 13, 1945 detailed the founding…

 St John WA’s Michael Eppen has been named a finalist in the 2025 Worksafe Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards for Health and Safety Representative (HSR) of the Year. Michael is the Health and Safety Representative for St John WA’s busy Fleet and Radio Team. His proactive approach has directly contributed to creating a safe…

The Pocock family have a long history of volunteering with emergency services.  And three generations of Pocock men have each found their volunteering niche at St John WA.  John, 73, works with Community Transport Services (CTS), Dave, 48, in Country Ambulance and Rhys, 18, with Event Health Services (EHS).  It was Dave who convinced son,…

Bunbury has become the hub for St John WA’s first aid training in the South West with fully refreshed training rooms and brand new shop now open.  The upgraded location opened to the public in August after months of planning and refurbishment works.  The shop offers locals and businesses an easy, one-stop destination to buy…

The St John WA Wellbeing, Safety and Injury Management (WSIM) Team is a finalist in the prestigious 2025 Australian Workplace Health and Safety Awards. The awards recognise organisations and teams across the country that demonstrate innovation and excellence in health, safety and wellbeing. As a finalist in the ‘Team of the Year’ category, the WSIM…