Mullewa ambulance volunteer John ‘Hobby’ Peet honoured for decades of service

Mullewa volunteer ambulance officer John “Hobby” Peet has been recognised by St John WA for decades of service to his community.

Mr Peet, 79, was presented with the Service Medal of the Order of St John (with bar), recognising his years of dedicated work.

Mr Peet has been an ambulance driver in Mullewa since 1998 when he began working at the local hospital.

When he retired in 2010, he continued as a volunteer ambulance officer.

For Mr Peet, it was the chance to help others that drove him to drive ambulances.

“Its an important service for the community, its hard to find volunteers in Mullewa,” he said.

While the work can be difficult, Mr Peet said St John WA has been supportive which he is grateful for.

“They always check on your wellbeing, give you a ring, see how you’re going,” he said.

Mr Peet belongs to a family with a long history of volunteering with St John WA.

His father, Horrie, joined in 1945, helped found the Mullewa Sub Centre and drove the ambulance until the 1960s.

His brother Donnie used to also volunteer in Mullewa as an ambulance drive, while another brother, Edward, volunteered with his wife in Kalbarri and then in Chapman Valley, where John’s niece, Erica, is now a long-standing volunteer along with her husband.

Inspired by his ambulance service, his granddaughter Cari volunteers at Mt Hotham in Victoria.

Erica Eccleston, Mr Peet’s niece, said her family members instilled a great appreciation for community service in her.

“There’s a really strong culture of volunteering in our family,” she said.

“We certainly talk about some interesting stories around the family table.”

For Mr Peet, his work in the community in Mullewa is a great source of pride, and he encourages others to get involved.

“I am proud that I’ve been able to help out in my home town where I’ve spent my whole life,” he said

“It’s a service to the community, it’s a service to everybody, well it’s a service to humanity.

“You don’t know who around the corner could need help and it doesn’t cost you anything.”

Mr Peet said he planned to stay with St John WA for many years to come.