Awards for volunteers

By Sarah Schwager
TWO locals were recognised by the St John Ambulance on the weekend.
Gloria Flatt of Cranbourne and Darren Johnson, Hampton Park resident of 15 years who recently moved to Narre Warren, received prestigious Order of St John awards.
Mrs Flatt was promoted to Commander, the second highest grade in St John below knight or dame at the ceremony at Government House on Saturday.
Mrs Flatt has been a volunteer member for 37 years and has helped out at numerous bushfires, with cadet and adult training, casualty simulation competitions, and motorbike duties at the Phillip Island Grand Prix.
She has been a regional officer for the past 10 years.
Mrs Flatt, 70, said she had first joined St John after completing a first aid course when her children were young. She said she hadn’t looked back since.
“I’ve met a lot of people that I wouldn’t have normally met as an ordinary housewife,” she said.
“It’s an honour that I didn’t expect.”
Mrs Flatt said her husband, Ken, had been a member of St John and her family had always been very supportive.
“They had to be when I was spending five days in a row at bushfires.”
She was accompanied by her husband and her mother, who turned 89 yesterday.
Mr Johnson was promoted to the grade of Officer .
A qualified nurse, Mr Johnson has been involved with St John for 23 years.
He is now the State Superintendent, looking after Victoria’s 2500 volunteers, and is employed by St John as an operations manager.
Previously he was venue manager at Waverley Park, operations commander at the Formula One Grand Prix for eight years and at the Phillip Island Grand Prix, assessed the running of St John at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, and will work as operations commander at the upcoming Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
St John Deputy Prior Governor John Landy presented both with a medal and and Mrs Flatt was also presented with a cape which is to be worn on ceremonial occasions.