Deserving winner always ‘first to put her hand up’
St John Ambulance Onslow sub centre volunteer Lynette Godfrey is the inaugural winner of the monthly Pilbara News West Pilbara Emergency Volunteer of the Year award.
Ms Godfrey was nominated by Kim Clement, who said she was very deserving.
“She’s always there, she is the first to put her hand up,” Ms Clement said.
“And sometimes she just does too much.”
Ms Godfrey started volunteering with the ambulance service in the middle of 2009.
“I’m a registered nurse by trade and I don’t nurse anymore so I thought that I … should use my skills,” she said.
Ms Godfrey used to work at the Onslow Hospital and said there was a time when there was no ambulance service in the town.
“It was really quite bad for the patients, the community and the hospital,” she said.
“I know it sounds corny but I think that the town deserves an ambulance service … and if I can organise people to facilitate that then it’s pretty good.”
The award winner said she did not do the job for the plaudits, but for the community.
St John Ambulance Karratha community paramedic Dave Joseph said Ms Godfrey was a deserving recipient.
“She really is the backbone of that place and wears so many hats in so many roles,” she said.
Mr Joseph said there were seven people who manned the Onslow station and they were on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“They cover a huge area and they all do a great job,” he said.
The awards will continue next month. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate a deserving emergency volunteer.
Email your nominations to christopher.lees@pilbaramedia.com.au with a short description of why your nominee deserves an award.
Harvey Norman Karratha will present Ms Godfrey with a gift voucher.
