There’s something in the Waters at Kununoppin  

They say many hands make light work, and in country communities like Kununoppin in WA’s Wheatbelt, they keep vital services alive.  

Four generations of one family have given more than 90 years of volunteer service to ensure their region’s ambulance service runs around the clock. 

Geoff Waters has been volunteering with St John WA Kununoppin Sub Centre for 44 years and has served as its chairperson for the past two decades.  

His son Mark stepped up to help eight years ago, followed by his grandson John. 

The Waters men continue the legacy of Geoff’s mother Evelyn, who was one of the founding members of the sub centre in 1952 and a volunteer for about 40 years.  

The sub centre covers hundreds of kilometres of bush, with 12 ambulances spread across six locations responding to about 290 emergency calls a year.  

With three generations of Waters ready to jump in an ambulance at all hours of the day and night, there have been plenty of family barbeques and even Christmas lunches interrupted by calls for help. 

“I get a phone call from Dad, and he says, ‘put your uniform on, I am picking you up in five minutes’,” John said.  

Mark and 24-year-old John usually come as a package deal on the road.  

“Our co-ordinator says you need some quality father and son time together,” Mark said.  

After decades of late night and early morning callouts, 72-year-old Geoff said it was all worth it to ensure his community was taken care of. 

“I often get asked why I do so much, and I say, I hope one day if one of my family needs an ambulance someone will do it for us,” he said.  

“We are here for the community – that is the bottom line.” 

John said the beauty of volunteering in such a tight-knit community meant they were often assisting people they knew, so it was easy to keep them comfortable. 

“No one wants to call an ambulance, but when you do and you see a local face, you spend half the time talking and it keeps the situation a lot calmer,” he said.  

Mark got involved after seeing his dad and other older volunteers struggling to meet demand amid dwindling numbers.  

He started with ambulance transfers in his spare time and quickly discovered the joy of helping elderly patients on jobs big and small. 

“I enjoy talking to the patients, listening to their stories and making their trip to hospital or wherever they need to go more comfortable,” he said.  

“The patients are always thankful and that’s what makes it more than worthwhile. 

“Anyone can volunteer to be an ambulance officer; you’ve just got to have the right temperament and be willing to learn and work as a team.” 

Having served his community in the fire brigade for 50 years and on the local council for 27 years, all while running the family farm, Geoff knows the value of giving back. 

“I just love helping people in the local community, they know you and know you’ve got their best interests at heart,” he said.  

“That’s always been my attitude, if we can’t help one another, then life is going to be pretty lonely out here.” 

The born and bred Kununoppin local is a pillar of his community, known to go above and beyond to ensure every patient is well looked after.  

Geoff said everyone had something to give. 

“Every little bit helps and takes the pressure off the people who are doing a lot,” he said.  

“We’ve got a diminishing community population, if we don’t have volunteers, we won’t have an ambulance service.”  

St John WA Regional Manager Wheatbelt Matthew Guile said volunteers like the Waters family were the lifeblood of regional communities.

“The Waters family demonstrate the true spirit of volunteering – to give back to their community without expectation of recognition or reward,” he said.

“Without volunteers in regional communities, we would not be able to provide the same level of service with such professionalism, care and compassion – and the commitment of three generations of the Waters family to work together to support their community is truly inspiring. 

“Their remarkable contribution spans decades, and on behalf of St John WA Kununoppin and the entire St John WA organisation, we thank them for their dedication to their communities and the service of humanity.”

A recent survey released for National Volunteer Week found nine in 10 Western Australians think favourably about people who volunteer, click here to learn more.  

More than 5000 volunteers contribute their time across a range of roles with SJWA from on-road emergency ambulance response in country WA, to logistics, volunteer support, community transport and Event Health Services.  

To become a volunteer visit, https://stjohnwa.com.au/changelives.