Labour of love for volunteer
They are the welcoming faces who help the sick and injured at WA's big events and this weekend St John Ambulance volunteers will set up where it all started.
For 110 years St John has held a first aid post at the Perth Royal Show, the first event where the WA branch offered its services with just six volunteers.
Kevin Young remembers booking the week every year for two decades - in the 1970s men's and women's posts were separate, he recalled. "You joined to help your fellow man," he said. "It's a labour of love."
Mr Young, who turns 82 on the Show's last day, is WA's longest-serving and oldest volunteer, after 65 years with the group.
After reaching the age limit for an event volunteer, he has turned to other St John areas, working in the museum or fundraising. Mr Young was just 14 when he signed up to be an ambulance officer.
"I always wanted to be a doctor but there were six of us in the family and only one income and they didn't have the money to send me to medical school," he said.
He has seen St John Ambulance "constantly improve" and says it could be relied on.
This year, between 300 and 400 volunteers will put in a total of 4300 hours at the Show. The post usually helps between 800 and 1000 injured and sick Showgoers.
