Last week we received the very sad news that Pat McQuillen had passed away. Pat died peacefully on Sunday 14th September after a battle with cancer.

Pat joined St John in Darwin in 1976 after completing a first aid course and moved to Alice Springs a short time later. She was a very active member until she retired and moved to Avoca in Victoria in 2005. She was an integral part of some of the major events in Alice Springs such as the Royal Visits, 1983 & 1988 floods, rail accidents, aircraft crashes, National Cadet Camp and the official opening of the Ambulance Centre. Being able to witness these events first hand allowed Pat the opportunity to continue with her interest of the history of the organisation. Pat was instrumental in documenting the history of St John in Alice Springs and in 2004 published a book called “Saved Any Lives Today?”

The following is an excerpt from Pat’s book “Saved Any Lives Today?”

Pat McQuillen grew up in Avoca, Victoria and began her teaching career there in 1956. After graduating from Melbourne Teacher’s College Pat taught in many large and small schools all over Western Victoria. In 1966 she moved to Canada and taught in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Upon resigning from teaching, Pat worked for three years in hospitality at the Montreal International Airport.

When she returned to Australia she began her teaching career again in Darwin. It was there that she signed up for a course in First Aid not knowing it was really a course in First Aid for Ambulance Transport and as a volunteer with St John. But not being one to quit she decided to give it a go and now, nearly 30 years later, she is still a volunteer with St John and currently teaching at Yirara College in Alice Springs.

Pat rose through the ranks of St John from Nursing Member to Ambulance Officer to Divisional Officer, Superintendent of both Adult and Cadet Divisions, to Corps Officer and to Territory Officer, from Serving Sister to Officer of the Order of St John.

Pat has left a wonderful legacy of the history of St John in Alice Springs and she will always be remembered by her many friends in St John.