Steve was born in Mansfield, Victoria and was educated at the Benalla Technical College. In 1964 he joined the RAAF and enjoyed postings to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin.

After being discharged from the military in Melbourne in 1970 Steve returned to Darwin to take up employment with the NT Housing Commission. After attending a first aid course in 1977 he joined as a Volunteer and in 1979 joined the full time Ambulance Service. Steve was one of the first staff members to establish the service in the Barkly region.

Steve remained in Tennant Creek until 1982 then transferred to Alice Springs. He completed paramedic training in 1985 and spent a period of three years in Darwin before being promoted to Operations Manager Alice Springs. Steve was the Alice Springs Operations Manager from 1988 until 2008 when he was appointed as the First Aid Services Manager.

Steve and his wife, Ros have been married for forty four years, have three grown up children, Emily, Warren and Scott and four grandchildren.

FIRST AID SERVICES MANAGER

Steve was appointed in the newly established role of First Aid Services Manager in 2008 responsible for all volunteer activities – administration, Youth Development, recruiting, financial services and resourcing in the Northern Territory. Steve’s role includes the development of an Operations Branch Business Plan, developing networks and increasing the profile of St John Volunteers in the Community.

COMMISSIONER 

(Volunteer Role)
After joining St John as a volunteer in 1977 Steve completed paramedic training and continued his volunteering work after he joined as a full time ambulance officer. His commitment to the volunteers has continued and he has held various positions. Steve was promoted to Commissioner in July 2008, the highest volunteer rank in the Northern Territory.

As Commissioner, Steve is responsible for the development and the implementation of strategy, policy and standards in Event and Emergency First Aid and Youth Development (Cadet) activities. The Commissioner is a member of the NT St John Council and works closely with the National Staff Group and National Commissioners Group to develop national Operations Branch policies and resources.

Involvement with St John

More Content

List of NT Commissioners
Greetings from the Territory Superintendent (19th December 2006)
Greetings from the Territory Superintendent (11th December 2007)
Steve Peers (Commissioner Promotion - 22nd July 2008)
2009 Commissioner’s Message
St John Ambulance NT Commissioner – Celebrates 30 Years
Knighthood for St John Ambulance Member & Graduation Ceremony
Investiture Ceremony 2009

The Adventure over the past 12 months

Palmerston Adult Division

I have seen many varied and exciting things happen in the past 12 months. You honestly couldn’t say it’s been a boring time. As for me it’s been action packed. This time last year I was based in Palmerston it was Anzac Week with memorial activities organized Palmerston adults attended and Angie Butler laid a flowers on behalf of St John Ambulance alongside Palmerston Cadet Division who attending the ceremony. I was actually able to meet up with some old mates and friends from my service days who still serve the Nation. And standing back I noticed the youth of Palmerston with parents and children attending.

In May 2009 it was all go for the preparation and attendance to the graduation for the Paramedic Students who qualified to be paramedic at Government house Angie attended in her position in the Order of St John members and I assisted with the awards during the ceremony at Government house.

Anzac Heritage Course

In August 2009 I was sent to work in Katherine for 6 months that extended to almost 8 months. I was able to assist in running the Heritage Anzac Course (2) for the Katherine Cadets working alongside Natalie Clark, the superintendent of Katherine Cadets, and Katherine Adult Division with Steve and Tanea Rudder who have inspired the adults as they continue to grow and learn and give aid to their community.

Katherine also received car 156 and in 2010 was able to organise the Driver training course. To its credit a huge response and commitment has been made by members supported by Station Ambulance officers. They are an incredible bunch of professional people who apply their skills to aid the community and give to the public without question. I was so very pleased to have been part of the team over the past 8 months.

In November at the Annual Presentations I was awarded Volunteer of the year for 2009 and was absolutely speechless.

On the 23rd of January Angie and I attended Mud Racing as part of the crowd. It was a great afternoon to be among the spectators to watch as the events occurred. Not being used to not attending as a Volley we still made sure we knew where the first aid post was and who was attending on the day. On the day the announcer gave credit to the volunteers and members of St John who give up their time for these events for the public to enjoy and I must admit I was very proud to be part of the crowd on that day.

On the 26th January I attended Darwin Races as part of a volley ambulance crew on Australia day with Christine Turner. It was an excellent day

On my return to Katherine I continued to work at the Ambulance Station attending training nights with Katherine Adults and continued to assist students in the driver training course.

On the 21st of March I finally returned home to Darwin and have started to now find myself attending Palmerston Adult Division - “I’m Back“ - and recently in April 2010 attended Hi  dden Valley Super Bikes as a Volley, while at the same time working alongside Professional Ambulance officers and Paramedics. My professional job keeps me very active and where possible, if I am not working, I like to try and do a little more at Volley Duties or assist my wife Angie with the Division in Palmerston.

More recently we had a volley training night on Thursday the 8th April with a guest visitor from interstate, Steve Gerwen (The National Training Officer) and Superintendent of the Canberra Adult Division in the ACT). Steve wanted to attend a Division in Darwin to see what training activities we do in the Northern Territory. It was a great night.

The remainder of the night we continued on with training, covering OB12 Documentation revision and raising Ambulance transportation Case cards for attendance to volley duties with our volley vehicles.

Two new people of interest checking us out on their first night were Megan and Jenny who attended for the first time and I believe were very impressed. I’d like to thank Graeme Owen for making sure they were made to feel very welcome to the Division and we hope that they may return.

The Night ended over a good old cuppa Tea / Coffee and sweet biscuits. Yum !

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of the many people I have meet throughout the Northern Territory over the last 12 months, both in my professional job and as a volunteer. You gave your time in assisting in my training and also by allowing me to gain experience and valued knowledge and friendship.

I would especially like to thank all the Volleys and Paramedics in Katherine. It’s been extremely interesting, it’s been action packed and exciting and I have enjoyed every minute of being a volunteer and a student.

Article by Brett “Benny” Butler Divisional officer Palmerston Adult Division

I first joined St John Ambulance Cadets at the age of 11 after doing a public first-aid course.

I had loved the practical skills and found it to be enjoyable and fun.

My Dad then encouraged me to go along to a Cadet division and see how I liked it.

I remember being so nervous on my first night, but straight away I was introduced to a buddy and was then taken along to my first class.

From there I joined the band and started learning recorder and later flute.

I attended camps, gained proficiency badges in things like camping and ANZAC Heritage and was promoted to a Corporal.

After 7 years within the Cadet Band Division I am still learning and enjoying being a member. One piece of advice I would give is if you think you might like being a volunteer first-aider or a cadet is to come and have a go. It may just be one of the best things you ever do."

Amy McKay
Chair
Northern Territory Youth Council

View all articles with Amy McKay.

After having my mug in the last two Vollie News (and online), I thought it was time to introduce myself, as I would like to become a regular contributor of our wonderful newsletter.

My name is Tanea and I am the other half of Steve who is the new face at Katherine Centre, both Student Paramedic and Volunteer. After volunteering for 6 years, we make a good team and you will often find us both on duty together.

Steve and I recently moved from Alice Springs to Katherine and are now very much alive with all the events of Katherine Volunteer branch. Steve has been very busy with his paramedic study which has taken up a lot of his time, but now that he is contributing to Katherine Volunteers he is on the up and up.

Tanea Rudder

View all articles by Tanea Rudder.

St John Ambulance in the Northern Territory is saying goodbye to Noel and Liz Talbot who are leaving Alice Springs to live in South Australia. Noel has worked for St John for the past fifteen years as the Sales Consultant and he is well known throughout Central Australia in communities, small towns and the cattle stations.

He always knew where to go for fresh scones and morning tea.

Both Noel and Liz made such an incredible impact on St John in the Northern Territory and contributed countless hours volunteering their time for their community.

Last Friday was Noel’s last day and as it was Children’s Week both Noel and Liz ran the sausage sizzle for all the children. This has been an annual activity for the past eleven years that St John has been involved with.

Staff, family and friends attended a wonderful dinner at the Elkira Motel and presented them with a digital photo frame.

St John Chairman, Mike Mooney and CEO, Ross Coburn travelled to Alice Springs to attend a special dinner to thank both Noel and Liz.

Ross Coburn presented them with a beautiful landscape painting of Central Australia.

They will be missed by their many friends and colleagues throughout the Northern Territory. 

For those of you who didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Noel this is a little bit of information.

Noel was employed by the South Australian Railways for 37 years f rom 1958 to 1995. After living in Peterborough for 9 years he moved to Alice Springs for a promotion with the railways. After 8 years he left the railways and was employed by St John.

He first joined St John Ambulance in 1980 in South Australia as a private member. After transferring to Alice Springs in 1991 he was promoted to Divisional Superintendent of the Alice Springs Adult Division. He held several leadership roles and was Territory Officer Cadets for eight years.

I asked Noel what he liked most about St John:
“I enjoy every aspect of St John – the friendship and fellowship with members of St John and being in a position to help my community. My work with cadets gave me a great sense of satisfaction and pride.”

I then asked him about his most memorable St John moment:
“In the course of my work and travelling many thousands of kilometres each year throughout the Territory I often came upon situations that called on my first aid skills. A vivid memory is coming across an accident in a remote area of the Territory where a car had rolled with the two occupants trapped inside. With the assistance of a remote area nurse we worked on them for four hours until the Royal Flying Doctor arrived.”

Although they will be leaving the NT they will be re-joining St John in South Australia once they have settled into their new home.

Thank you Noel and Liz and we hope to see you back in the NT in the near future. Enjoy your retirement.

Article by Gwyn Balch

Angie was very shy and tended to step back from everyone but still had the courage to join St John. That was back in April 1983. She now holds the rank of Deputy Territory Superintendent and is a Commander of the Order of St John.

She joined in Brisbane, and was a member of the Brisbane Central No 1 Division for 21 years, having started as a private and worked up to Superintendent. She was also employed by St John Ambulance Queensland for 20 years.

As Superintendent she ran a very successful division and had over 50 members, who covered duties such as Gabba, Suncorp, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, rock concerts and other events.

After meeting and marrying husband Benny they moved to Darwin in 2006 and quickly became involved with St John in Darwin.

Angie was promoted to the position of Divisional Superintendent of the Palmerston Adult Division, then to Deputy Territory Superintendent.

She works for St John in the Northern Territory in the Training Department.

View all Articles with Angie Butler