While Christmas Eve 1974 will always be remembered for the tragic impact of Cyclone Tracy on Darwin, it also presented the defining moment that St John transformed from a volunteer service to the full ambulance service provider in Darwin.
This transition of the service in effect from 25 December 1974 would be officially recognised by the Federal Government on April 1, 1975 and full-time staff were employed in August 1975 with the first paid ambulance officers starting in February 1976. These included the first two full-time female ambulance officers in Australia. Over the following years this agreement between St John and the Department of Health (NT Division) would increase to include other major population centres as the Northern Territory moved towards self-government in 1978 and St John NT became the Territory’s on road emergency ambulance service.
Parap Ambulance Station
On Christmas morning, St John NT’s headquarters quickly became a major first aid post staffed by St John Volunteers and their families.
The Dirty Dozen
While the women and children were being evacuated out of Darwin mainly to the southern capital cities reinforcements were moving in.
St John NT’s history
The defining moment that St John transformed from a volunteer service to the full ambulance service provider in Darwin.
