Fifty years ago, a small group of Gisborne locals took emergency care into their own hands. Today, the town's Ambulance Victoria (AV) branch stands as a testament to their vision and fundraising power.
The Gisborne Ambulance Auxiliary is celebrating five decades of service, and its legacy is written into the foundations of local paramedic care.
Formed after it was recognised by residents that a local ambulance branch was needed, the auxiliary was born from a public meeting called by the then Ratepayers' Association and local police.
That night, the group was created with a goal to form an ambulance branch in Gisborne.
"I was elected as treasurer that same night and I'm still here 50 years later," one of the founding members and current auxiliary treasurer Patricia Kaye said.
Within just a few years, the auxiliary had raised enough money to buy the town's first ambulance and by 1980, they fundraised enough to build an ambulance branch.
Later, they funded a local helipad and have spent decades supporting paramedics with essential equipment and resources.
"We're a small team, but we've always worked well together - and we've had a lot of fun doing what we do," Patricia said.
The Gisborne Auxiliary's energy and creativity has always shone through, with the group running antique fairs, art shows, cake stalls, square dancing, bingo and making showbags - all to raise money for the town's ambulance needs.
One of their greatest legacies was the creation of the much-loved Gisborne Olde Time Market, which continues today by the GREAT Association.
"Whatever we could make a dollar out of, we tried," Patricia said, "we're very proud of what we've been able to achieve."
After half a century, Patricia is the last of the original auxiliary committee still actively involved, but the bonds built over the decades remain strong.
"Many of the members were on the auxiliary for a long time. One of the ladies who joined the same night as me only resigned in the past couple of years and she's about to turn 97," Patricia said.
"The community has always been important to me, and I've always been involved in the Gisborne community. It's a lovely community to be in."
AV Acting Senior Team Manager Macedon Ranges Horace Vella said the auxiliary and their contributions are vital to AV and the local community.
"The support and generosity of the auxiliary has made a real difference. The funds they've raised have helped improve health outcomes for patients and enhance the level of care we're able to provide at our local ambulance branch," Horace said.
"Thanks to the auxiliary, our paramedics and first responders are equipped with specialised training resources to continue to refine their critical skills.
"The auxiliary is part of the fabric, and over the decades, they have strengthened our ability to deliver exceptional care to Gisborne and the surrounding communities."
