Brand new Mullewa St John Ambulance centre officially opened by director of ambulance operations Deon Brink

Mullewa’s new St John Ambulance sub-centre has been operating since last year, but those involved with getting it up and running lost the chance to celebrate when COVID-19 pressed pause on the world.

Last Friday — the day the township celebrated its 125th birthday — volunteer David Goodwin described some of the challenges the small team faced in getting the new centre up and running.

Mr Goodwin said there had been occasions when the project felt like a “waste of time”, but in the end, it was all worth it.

Mr Goodwin can head straight from the farm to the centre, where he can shower and get into his uniform for a long shift as a volunteer.

St John Ambulance community paramedic Nic Chadbourne said the town had desperately needed the new facility.

“It (the old facility) was this little blue thing. I don’t know who picked that colour in the first place,” he said.

He helped inspire the team by taking them to sub-centres in Morawa and Perenjori, adding that this new facility had plenty of room for training and administration.

Mr Chadbourne shared plans to work with local community members to grow traditional Yamatji medicine plants.

This centre belongs to the community,

Director of ambulance operations Deon Brink said it was humbling to visit the accomplished volunteers in Mullewa.

Mr Brink also presented David Goodwin and John “Hobby” Peet certificates of commendations for their work helping to rescue Jack Norman, 18, who became stranded in waist-deep water during recent flooding nearby.

Mr Brink said recognising community effort was the best part of his job.