Order of St John Postulant's Dinner

Ladies and gentlemen, children, members of the Order of St John, postulants—that is, members who will be invested tomorrow—and their guests.  I begin by greeting you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand—in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean,Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.  Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening [sign].

It is a pleasure to be part of St John this weekend for a series of important and unique occasions. The postulants’ dinner tonight provides the senior leadership of St John and our postulants with an opportunity to meet and come to know one another better.  More importantly, it is for our postulants to begin the process of a better understanding of the Order of St John, its governance structure and roles and responsibilities within the Order.  From you, our postulants, will hopefully emerge the future leaders of St John.

This evening also has a special character as it is the last postulants’ dinner I will attend as Prior and as Governor-General.  The investiture ceremony tomorrow will also be my last as Prior before I depart Government House on 23 August.

Susan and I have been reflecting on our five year association with St John.  Since being inducted in London by the Duke of Gloucester in July 2006 and becoming Prior in August 2006 we have been involved in a wide range of formal and informal St John events.  These have been in many parts of the country ranging from the large 125th Anniversary Celebration in a filled Christchurch Town Hall and the stirring occasion on the paepae at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia when Kingi Tuheitia was invested.  There have been in all as many as 66 previous encounters of one kind or another.

I well recall one of the first events attended where my task, in the forecourt of the Anglican Cathedral in Auckland, was to inspect the youth members on parade.  I was greeted by a young boy, no more it seemed, than six or seven, who became so excited that he saluted with both hands.  I happened to mention and demonstrate this in an interview with a reporter soon after, which of course resulted in a photograph of my own two handed salute being published in the metropolitan newspaper! 

What stays with Susan and me, long after the events themselves, are, time and again, the memories of selfless, dedicated and talented St John people we have met.

These have been members young and old and ambulance officers volunteering in urban settings as well as remote rural communities. We have connected with members of Christchurch staff who worked in challenging situations following the devastating 22 February earthquake—caring for others while facing their own personal difficulties.

We have met volunteer and paid members, and front line as well as back office people.  All of them contribute to the work that has gathered the admiration of all New Zealanders for whom the highest quality of service and care is provided.

This dedication to service is amply illustrated by the work of Warkworth St John volunteer, Paula Clayden, who died late last month, and whose contribution was outlined in The New Zealand Herald.  She and her brother Bryan Dittmer joined St John as children and remained committed to the organisation ever since.

Paula was a youth cadet leader in the North Auckland town, teaching 30 children and teenagers first-aid and other skills.  She was also an on-call volunteer and just over two weeks before her death from breast cancer, completed the course making her a qualified ambulance officer.  So determined was she that she sat her final examination in the hospice.

Paula Clayden’s St John service underscores the historic role of St John as a group of people bound by a set of rules to provide care for the sick and the poor.  Those who served before us would, I feel certain, be very proud to see the wide range of services St John is able to provide today.

Congratulations to all postulants as you begin a journey in the Venerable Order of St John.  You are part of a wonderful tradition within an organisation that will stay vital and relevant for many years to come.

To the organisers of this Dinner and the Investiture tomorrow, thank you for your care in making this a very special weekend.  It is another that I know Susan and I will remember warmly.

And on that note I will close in our country’s first language, by offering everyone greetings and wishing everyone good health and fortitude in your endeavours.   No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.