Community digs deep to fund new St John Ambulance depot in Bremer Bay

The Bremer Bay community has banded together to raise money for a new St John WA depot to meet demand during the town’s peak tourist season.

Local businesses have dug deep for the cause, donating nearly $4500 worth of prizes towards three Bremer Bay “experience packages” with winners to be drawn at the Bremer Bay Resort on April 17.

All proceeds will be donated to the St John WA Jerramungup sub-centre to go towards their plans for a new depot in Bremer Bay.

Farmer Ashley Lester organised the raffle because he wanted to raise money to support volunteers like his wife Rebecca.

“The local ambulance crew provide such a valuable service to our community so grab a ticket to support this fantastic cause,” he said.

“I want to say a big thank you to all the local businesses who donated prizes for the raffle and everyone who has bought a ticket so far.”

Mrs Lester said the new depot was desperately needed to accommodate more volunteers.

“Bremer is getting really busy with tourists and we only have one tiny, tiny little room to put the ambulance in so basically they are desperate to try to expand it,” she said.

“It’s invaluable to the community especially when we are so remote.”

Mrs Lester said she was moved to sign up as a volunteer two years ago after her friend was attacked by a shark at Kelp Beds in 2014.

An off-duty paramedic and St John’s volunteer on the beach saved her friend’s life.

“I saw first-hand how valuable the ambulance service is in an emergency situation when my friend was attacked by a shark in Esperance,” Mrs Lester said.

“And with the number of people visiting our sleepy little town these days, an upgraded ambulance depot is long overdue.”

With tickets at $20 each, they aim to sell 2000 in the hope of raising about $40,000 for the sub-branch.

First prize is valued at $1800 including two Whale Watch WA orca tour tickets and two nights accommodation at the Bremer Bay Resort.

The raffle is the latest in a series of grassroots fundraising initiatives for St John Ambulance’s new Bremer Bay depot.

The Telegraph on Bremer hosted a quiz night in January which raised $2455 for the project, while the Kokoda Op Shop in Jerramungup donated $10,000 to the sub-centre in February.

Tickets are available at the Bremer Bay Post Office, Bremer Bay General Store, Seachange Bremer Bay giftware, Bremer Bay Brewing Co, The Telegraph and Bremer Bay BP Roadhouse.

For details call Mrs Lester on 0429 024 984.