On Monday 22nd July 2024 – the Governor General, as the titular head of the National St John Ambulance Service of Papua New Guinea, and Thomas Budd GCStJ, Chancellor of The Order of St John had the honour of announcing the appointment of esteemed Papua New Guineans to the National St John Council. The swearing-in took place in a Ceremony at Government House.
The new appointments to the National Council include Governor Elizabeth Genia, representing Statutory Authorities, and Mr Reg Monagi, representing the public and business sectors. Both esteemed individuals bring incredible commitment and a wealth of experience in their respective fields
The Governor General and Thomas Budd GCStJ, Chancellor of The Order of St John also oversaw the Investiture Ceremony of key Papua New Guineans:
- Philip Proust: Philip’s contributions to St John PNG have been transformative. In 2017, he pioneered the first Emergency Medical Technician programme, significantly enhancing ambulance care standards with advanced training for health extension officers. His leadership during the 2018 Rugby League World Cup and APEC World Leaders Summit bolstered St John’s paramedic services and supported Australian paramedic volunteers in PNG. Phillip also facilitated crucial prehospital care training, fostering collaboration between medical staff and St John Ambulance, attracting senior doctors to volunteer. Since 2016, he has volunteered tirelessly, mentoring leaders and improving operational processes, contributing to a stronger workforce and enhanced ambulance services.
- Lutz Heim: Lutz joined The National St John Council as the treasurer in 2019 and provided distinguished support and leadership to grow and enhance St John Ambulance PNG. In 2019 he started revising the St John’s Financial Management procedures as Treasurer, resulting in a 3 year successive unqualified audits. An indirect benefit of his contribution was the
successful Independent Audit of St John’s processes by BDO (Chartered Accounting Practice) on behalf of United Nations making St
John PNG eligible for further UN funding. This is also resulted in the receiving of over 15 million AUD in donor grants for COVID response between 2020 and 2022.
- Matthew Cooper: Matthew has contributed six consecutive years through the National St John Council on an entirely voluntary basis. Matthew has provided expertise in growing the business of St John to increase revenue across multiple facets of St John social enterprise. For the last six years, Matthew has provided a dedicated oversight of St John‘s financial expenditure and audit. During his time on the Council, he helped St John introduce the sale of first aid kits bringing in K1 million (approx £201,166) a year. He has greatly contributed through his business expertise to the sustainability and resilience of St John Ambulance helping to increase the organisations revenue to K3 million (approx £603,498) per year in social enterprise. This had enable the growth and resilience St John needs.
- Dr Mangu Kendino: Mangu is truly deserving of the highest recognition from St John for the manner in which she had performed her role in expanding St John’s clinical capability, ensuring safe and evidence-based clinical care and positively representing St John as the medical spokesperson in Papua New Guinea.
- Dr Sam Yockopua: Sam served as the Chief Medical Officer of St John PNG from 2015 until 2021. During his tenure, the ambulance service training increased from a two day first-aid course to a one year certificate. During his tenure, he greatly increased the clinical capacity of St John PNG staff and its ability to provide advanced life support to patients, something that on his first day in the job was far from possible. Dr Sam Yockopua led the first set of protocols for Ambulance, offices and the introduction of essential clinical governance system. Dr Sam Yockopua distinguished contribution had meant St John PNG is a resilient and nationally recognised emergency medical service. Dr Sam Yockopua has represented St John Ambulance throughout the medical community, lifting the organisations profile both is a charity and in a serious medical service provider in the emergency space. Dr Sam Yockopua continues his legacy now as the special advisor to the Minister for Health, ensuring that St John Ambulance PNG and the Ambulance profession is given a frontline position and understood by the Department of health, and the Ministers office.
- Jethro Philemon: Jethro started as telephone operator for St John Ambulance in 2016. After a few years of hard work and commitment, he was asked by management to attend reservist ambulance officer training and became an ambulance officer. His dedication and patience in treating patients, combined with his exceptional leadership qualities, have earned him the position of Duty Operation Manager, where he oversees the ambulance officers and communication centre to ensure that operations run smoothly.
Mr Philemon earned a qualification in emergency care (Level 3) following three months of training in New Zealand. When St John Ambulance was initially created in East New Britain (ENB) Province in 2020, Jethro stepped forward to head the operation, breaking down obstacles and networking with stakeholders. He lays the groundwork for St. John Ambulance in ENB. With his extensive field and administrative expertise, Jethro was reassigned to Simbu Province as the Highlands Region Commander. Jethro was also the Special Operations Commander in command of the election deployment to Western Highlands province during the 2022
National Election in Papua New Guinea.
The Governor General affirmed full support of the National St John Ambulance, a sovereign Papua New Guinean statutory entity with an important mandate to provide a centrally coordinated emergency ambulance service. He commended Dame Jean for her leadership of the organisation over the past decade, which has resulted in the organisation now covering some 20% of the population, answering over 300,000 calls, and responding to some 31,000 emergencies in the last 12 months.
- Sir Bob Dadae, Governor – General
“Dame Jean’s leadership, alongside that of her Council and management, has empowered this national team of over 300 extraordinary Papua New Guineans to deliver the vital emergency ambulance service for the nation. The National St John Council is successfully training our young men and women and transitioning them to deliver remarkable care to our fellow citizens. Almost every Papua New Guinean in the southern region, and now in Lae City and East New Britain, will know someone who has been helped or saved by these Green Angels."
The Governor General expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Government for ensuring ongoing monetary support to the National St John Council directly from the Treasury. “Empowering the National St John Council is the right thing to do, and it ensures the National St John Ambulance serves thousands of Papua New Guineans,” said Sir Bob. He implored the Government to ensure adequate budget allocation in the coming years so that the ambulance service can expand to reach more of our rural population, working through the National Department of Health and in support of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the PNG Fire Service.
