The Cambridge St John Ambulance station on Fort Street has been deemed no longer fit for purpose.
Hato Hone St John Ambulance Cambridge area committee chair Jim Goddin cleans one of the town’s ambulances, an ongoing gift from Wash Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Funds raised through this month’s Light the Way appeal will contribute to the multi-million dollar redevelopment of the station, as St John targets $4.5 million nationally to upgrade 13 stations.
Cambridge chair and volunteer St John Ambulance officer Jim Goddin said there were few details he could share as it was commercially sensitive.
“But we hope the new facility will be a hub for St John activities for many years to come,” he said.
Hato Hone St John is experiencing sustained high demand on its services in Cambridge. Last year, ambulance crews responded to 3842 emergencies, up 83 per cent on the 2092 call outs in 2010.
First ambulance officer appointed in Cambridge
Hugh Davison, who now serves as St John area operations manager, was the town’s first paid paramedic in 1995 and says the pressure is mounting.
Cambridge News 5 June 2025
“The ageing and growing population in Cambridge has added pressure on the wider health system. Our ambulance stations need to expand and adapt, to remain functional and meet the long-term needs of our communities.
“(They) are crucial for our frontline staff; they are a home away from home – a place where we connect with our colleagues, and reset, debrief, and recharge between callouts,” said Davison, who lives in Cambridge.
“It is a privilege being able to serve my community. Being trusted by locals to enter their homes and help them when they are at their most vulnerable, is humbling.”
In 1995, the workload was between 45 to 50 ambulance callouts a month. Today, that number can be exceeded in less than a week.
The Cambridge community continues to show extraordinary generosity. Business owners Thomas and Kirsten Trollope recently offered free ambulance washes at their new Leamington-based business, Wash Cambridge — a task previously handled by volunteers at the Fort Street station.
A plaque commemorates the opening of Cambridge St John Ambulance Station in 1976.
St John is also one of three beneficiaries of a fundraiser launched by the Schick family in memory of 10-year-old Jimmy Schick, who tragically died in an ATV accident last month. The fund has already reached $312,000.
“We are constantly blown away by the tremendous support we receive from our community. We are immensely grateful for the generosity and kindness of every person, family and organisation that has donated to us,” said Goddin.
St John Ambulance has served Cambridge since 1933, originally operating as a volunteer-run station. The first base, known as the brigade rooms, was located on Victoria St.
The Fort St station opened in 1976, featuring three vehicle bays, a training room, a nurses’ room, and a large hall. Over the years, it has undergone several upgrades, including a major redevelopment in 1998 and the addition of a neighbouring house in 2010 to accommodate growing staff numbers.
Despite these efforts, the original structure—now nearly 50 years old—remains largely unchanged.
“Building codes relating to earthquake risk and health and safety requirements have determined the need for a very significant upgrade of our Cambridge station to ensure Hato Hone St John continues to deliver a safe and efficient ambulance service to the rapidly growing Cambridge community,” said Davison.
While Hato Hone St John receives government funding to help deliver ambulance services, it relies heavily on community fundraising to maintain and upgrade its facilities and vehicles. Over the next decade, the organisation plans to rebuild and modernise outdated ambulance stations across New Zealand.
In Cambridge, the main building continues to house ambulance vehicles, while clinical support staff use the training complex and offices for regional training and youth programmes.
Hato Hone St John Ambulance Cambridge area committee chair Jim Goddin at Wash Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Hato Hone St John Ambulance Cambridge area committee chair Jim Goddin cleans one of the town’s ambulances, an ongoing gift from Wash Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
