Mark Ferguson | New Leadership for Volunteers

Mark Ferguson
New Leadership for Volunteers

Volunteers play a vital role in the Territory Community.

It would be a rare community event that would occur without the presence of St John Ambulance NT volunteers. These valued and trusted members are located right across the Territory and many of the public and family events you attend year round cannot take place without their assistance.
Mark Ferguson is a man who has a thirst for volunteering. His passion began when he joined St John Ambulance in 1988 as a Cadet in Alice Springs. He later moved to Katherine with his family in 1989 only to find there was no cadet division, much to his disappointment. After finishing high school he worked for Woolworths in Katherine, working his way to a management role and completed a university course on retail management.
At the end of 1998 he attended a first aid course with St John in Katherine where the instructor talked about the work done by St John volunteers. This reignited Mark’s passion for volunteering and he joined the adult division, attending the weekly training sessions. Mark also relished the opportunity of assisting other members to restart the Katherine Cadet Division, a division which is still strong today. His interest in volunteering encouraged Mark to commence paramedic studies and he was employed by St John Ambulance in 2001.
After relocation to Darwin in 2002 with wife Mel, Mark commenced Intensive Care Paramedic studies. He was then offered an opportunity to advance his career and accepted the position of Officer in Charge of the Arnhem region. As the previous volunteer Superintendent of the Nhulunbuy Adult Division had left the town Mark also took on this role and actively promoted and assisted to ensure that volunteers had a strong presence in the region. Once settled in Nhulunbuy Mark became aware of the need to teach first aid in the community of Yirrkala and was instrumental in the development of a cadet styled program for the indigenous students. This program was a huge success thanks to the work from fellow St John members, Mandy Paradise, Kelly Raven and Kathy Allen.
When asked about some highlights of his time with St John Mark said “As a volunteer and a fulltime ambulance Paramedic I have been all over the place. In 2000 I went with two other members to be a volunteer to see the Olympic flame arrive in Uluru. I have also attended six Finke Desert races and have spent time in many of the mine sites around the Territory. A definite highlight was being the paramedic for eight weeks on the movie set of Australia, with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.”
Mark now resides in Darwin with wife Melanie and their four lovely children: Chloe, Hailey, Sophie and Lilly. Mark has continued with his studies and taken on senior roles within the Ambulance Service. In his volunteer role, he was promoted to Deputy Territory Superintendent in 2011 then in 2014 accepted the position of Territory Superintendent.
In a new chapter in Mark’s career, he has recently been appointed to the role of Director, Volunteer First Aid Services. The role looks after all volunteer matters Territory wide. An additional part of this role will, in a voluntary capacity, be Commissioner for ceremonial and public events.
Mark added “I am honoured to be appointed the Director Volunteer First Aid Services and the Commissioner and look forward to working with volunteers and serving the community of the Northern Territory”.

If you are interested in volunteering with
St John Ambulance NT and supporting your local community, please contact us on 89226205 or fill in our online enquiry form at www.stjohnnt.org.au or email us at volunteers@stjohnnt.asn.au