Joanne Wakelin is enjoying the challenge of studying for a Diploma in Ambulance Practice. Photo Ashburton GuardianFor one Ashburton St John volunteer, lifesaving is in the family.

Joanne Wakelin is a frontline volunteer for Ashburton’s ambulances and her husband is a volunteer firefighter.

She remembers her first observer shift well.

She was nervous initially,  but as soon as she started helping people she was happy.

“I can still remember it clear as day, by the time I got back I realised that this was something I wanted to do,” she said.

She said when she saw her husband after her first shift she was just smiling and he told her he knew she would love it.

Wakelin has been with St John for two years and finds it easy to balance her work life with volunteering.

Outside of St John she is a part-time reading specialist teacher at Ashburton College and she also works with foreign exchange students.

She often manages, during her shift with St John, to fit in either school work or exchange student work during downtime.

But it wasn’t the good schedule that attracted Wakelin to volunteer.

“Probably the best thing about volunteering is the feeling of helping, people are so grateful.

“I love the job and the people I’ve worked with.

“I didn’t expect to enjoy working with the elderly so much,” she said.

A lot of the ambulance jobs in Ashburton are helping the elderly and the people are so kind and treat ambulance staff very well, she said.

“Everyone treats us really well here, and encourages and supports us,” she said.

She was also surprised when she found out how many groups there were in Ashburton helping members of the community.

The experience of working with St John has also helped to strengthen her relationship with her husband.

“It helps having my husband at home with similar experiences,” she said.

The pair sometimes end up at the same call-outs, but often she doesn’t even realise it because she’s focused on her work.

However, she said, there is now a lot more give and take between them because she understands some of what her husband has gone through.

Wakelin is also sitting the Diploma in Ambulance Practice and said St John pays for the training, which she is grateful for.

She said it’s also convenient that the classes are being held in Ashburton rather than Christchurch.

Usually the students would have to travel, but because there is a large group of them doing the diploma at the same time, classes are being held in Ashburton.

Wakelin is enjoying the challenge of being back studying, especially as she finds the learning interesting.

“The paid staff help us with our learning and they’re really helpful with case studies and answering all our questions,” Wakelin said.

She is hoping to complete her diploma early March so she finishes before travelling at the end of that month.

By Guardian Staff © The Ashburton Guardian - 4 January 2017