Southland communities will benefit from a new ambulance thanks to the generosity of philanthropist George Chan, who has now donated nine vehicles to Hato Hone St John over the last decade.
The Generation 4 emergency ambulance was blessed and dedicated for service during a ceremony at Hato Hone St John’s Archives in Auckland on 9 March. The event was attended by George and Laura Chan, their family and friends, Member of Parliament Nancy Lu, and Hato Hone St John Order members, operational staff and volunteers.
Since 2016, the Chans, who live in Auckland, have gifted emergency vehicles for service in various locations across the country, including frontline emergency ambulances, first response units, a rapid response unit, and a patient transfer service ambulance. This latest donation, the ninth vehicle from the family, will serve the people of Invercargill and surrounding communities.
The new frontline emergency ambulance is fitted with modern equipment such as a power-load electric stretcher and stair carry chair, which make it easier and safer to move patients in and out of the vehicle.
Mr Chan, who was admitted as a Member of the Order of St John in 2020 and a recipient of a Priory Vote of Thanks in recognition of his extraordinary support of Hato Hone St John, says he was first inspired to help after living near an ambulance station and seeing emergency vehicles “come and go every day”.
The latest ambulance has been gifted in memory of Mr Chan’s late mother-in-law Lam Chan Tak Yung, who passed away in 2017, aged 100, having played a significant role caring for Mr and Mrs Chan’s sons when they were young.
At the ceremony, Mr Chan said this was a heartfelt expression of gratitude for his mother-in-law’s unwavering support and devotion to his family. He spoke of how she moved from Canada to Hong Kong in 1978 to help care for his first son and then moved with his family to New Zealand in 1988 to continue supporting his family.
“She is very important to our family and was kind to everyone she met. She taught us to give as much as we can to our community without asking for anything in return,” says Mr Chan.
The date of the dedication, 9 March, also holds special significance for the Chan family as marks the birthday of Mr Chan’s mother-in-law.
Hato Hone St John Operations Support Manager - Auckland A.J. Gabriel told those gathered at the ceremony that the four frontline ambulances that Mr Chan has funded since 2016 are expected to travel almost one million kilometres during their operational lifetime and has the potential to touch the lives of around 181,000 people.
Hato Hone St John Area Operations Manager for Southland, Braden Stark says the new vehicle will strengthen ambulance resources across Invercargill and support improved health outcomes for the wider Southland community.
“We are extremely grateful for the continued support Mr Chan gives to Hato Hone St John. This new ambulance will enable our paramedics to continue delivering the life-saving care they provide every day,” says Mr Stark.
“This ambulance is a wonderful gift to our community and on behalf of our team, I would like to thank Mr and Mrs Chan for their continued trust and support of Hato Hone St John in providing this valuable resource to our staff and the communities we serve.
ENDS