By Annette Lambly
SEVEN years ago Trevor Brljevich restarted his mother-in law's heart after she had arrested from a heart attack. The then 92-year-old now looks forward to celebrating her 100th birthday this January, thanks to Trevor's expertise and the wonders of a defibrillator, an electronic device that shocks the heart.
The man with more than 51 years experience on the frontline of the Maungaturoto St John Volunteer Ambulance Division describes the event as the most satisfying in his career. Not surprisingly, he has many `most' moments, including the time he `lost' the ambulance.
Trevor Brljevich with his golden laurel. Picture/Annette LamblyIt was fifty-three years ago that 24-year-old Trevor Brljevich pedalled his bike 20 kms after milking to attend the weekly meetings of the fledgling St John Volunteer Brigade.
His dedication to the service has never wavered and while retiring last September from frontline duty he remains on the books as the training officer, and the only foundation member still in service at the station. Last month he received a golden laurel to his gold bars and chevron.
In 1955 Trevor was one of 13 locals who felt the need to form a St John Volunteer Ambulance Division at Maungaturoto. An ambulance from either Whangarei or Dargaville in those days was a crucial hour's distance from Otamatea. Assisted by the driving force of Jack Conway, who had been involved with the organisation in Auckland since 1944, they set up what was basically a first aid division with the intention of obtaining their own ambulance.
For two years the volunteers wearing dyed ex-airforce uniforms, which they had paid for themselves, attended all local sports and public events around Otamatea.
Finally, after much fundraising by the Maungaturoto community, a Ford ambulance, costing 4000, was bought in 1957. Due to a lack of an official station, it was housed at the Central Garage.
On February 16, 1957 Trevor took the new ambulance to his first road accident at Kaiwaka.
"Oddly, it was exciting. I remember the patient well and she made a good recovery," but his smile slumps a little as he recalls the others over the years who didn't. "It's the children that get to you the most," he says.
Trevor quickly rose through the ranks to become a sergeant (1956), divisional officer (1970) and division superintendent from 1980 to 1993.
Described by his colleagues as `battery charged Trevor,' St John was to become a very big part of his and his family's life.
He says the family, in particular his late wife Yvonne, had to pick up wherever he left off. "Many the times she had to milk by herself while coping with the children," he said. "Without her, (and them) I couldn't have done it."
In the days well before pagers, the phone was the vital link. Yvonne would dutifully stand in the backyard waving a tea towel to attract Trevor' attention or furiously bang a pot loud enough that he could hear it out on the farm.
On February 2, 1963 Trevor attended New Zealand's worst bus accident when 15 people were killed and 21 injured. The bus carrying people returning for Waitangi Day celebrations crashed at the Brynderwyns.
"The site looked like a war zone. We set up tents and used a road service bus to transport walking and less seriously injured patients - many on stretchers - to hospital," he said.
Modest about his contribution to the service he is nevertheless proud of serving the community he knows and loves. He is pleased he was able to help the sick and injured, thankful of the support of a dedicated area committee and appreciative of the back-up of a modern day helicopter service and trained advanced paramedics.
Time spent with fellow ambulance officers on the way home from call outs remain memorable while worrying over elderly patients who say they are fine, when they were far from it, is embedded in his memory.
"People tend to think the ambulance is primarily for accidents but in fact two thirds of our patients are for medical reasons," he said.
But like everybody, Trevor has had that one major slip up. Twenty years later his face still colours beet when he remembers the day he `lost the ambulance.' You might say it became known locally as the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
One cold and frosty morning after delivering an elderly patient to hospital a fellow officer called out she was unable to remove the cap from a filled hot water bottle. Clambering out of the `bus', Trevor slammed the door behind to go to her assistance.
On turning around they pair were bewildered to find the ambulance had disappeared.
Investigating they found the vehicle, which usually took two people to push start it from the station, had rolled across the road, through a fence and careered happily down the cattle tracks to the bottom of a steep hill. Remarkably, it was still on its wheels and with only a few scratches otherwise unscathed.
The service which averaged around three calls outs per week in 1957 now averages close to that on a daily basis. The importance that volunteers like Trevor provide to communities can never be underestimated.
Retired from farming 14 years ago, Trevor began growing and breeding Zanterdeschia (calla lilies). Never doing anything half heartedly, Trevor has been recognised internationally with the Dix Penning award for his contribution to the Zantedeschia industry. Of only 14 awards, including three outside the Netherlands, he is the only New Zealander to have ever received the award.
At 78, he continues to breed the flowers for interest, admitting his favourite to be a pure lemon yellow with no name - and laughingly acknowledges his biggest rival is his granddaughter Jaimie.
© APN News & Media Ltd 2007.
