A dyslexic Timaru Catholic school boy with just two School Certificate subjects to his name has received one of the highest accolades from Hato Hone St John.
Major Brendan Wood, deputy chancellor of the order in New Zealand, was promoted to Knight of Grace at an investiture ceremony in Christchurch earlier this month, acknowledging 45 years’ service to the organisation across a diverse range of portfolios regionally, nationally and internationally.
He now serves as deputy chancellor and deputy chair of the board of Hato Hone St John New Zealand and chairs the clinical governance committee.
His involvement with the organisation began as a school boy in Timaru.
A St John Cadet from the age of 11, he also volunteered with the organisation while he was at high school.
After a stint working at his father’s Stafford St jewellers, he gained his first qualification in 1984 and began his career with Hato Hone St John as a first aid instructor — first in the organisation’s Latter St headquarters, and then to the new premises in Bank St.
Moving over to the ambulance service, Mr Wood moved up the ranks and gained more qualifications as the years went by.
Then the Timaru lad with just one university entrance and two school certificate subjects to his name, became Timaru’s team leader, and then district operations manager.
He left Timaru in 2005 to join the New Zealand Defence Force, based at Burnham, serving nine years before taking up a new role in 2014 as senior lecturer with Auckland University of Technology’s department of medicine, teaching programmes at Burnham Military Camp that allowed defence force members to obtain civilian qualifications.
While moving away from operational St John roles, Maj Wood’s involvement with the organisation continued in governance roles.
He is in his second term as deputy chancellor, and is deputy chairman of the board and on the priory of New Zealand for the Order of St John.
The organisation described him as a strong and visible advocate for organisational diversity and inclusion, ensuring commitments to essential partnerships are met so St John can be of service across the country.
‘‘Major Wood displays remarkable leadership and commitment through his priory roles and is also a registered paramedic.’’
Now based in Christchurch, Maj Wood works at Burnham and commutes to Auckland when required for his university and St John responsibilities.
He still occasionally gets back to Timaru, and has been a bit chuffed to hear some practices still described as ‘‘the Brendan Wood method’’, and to see the town’s new purpose-built facility in operation.
He said he had enjoyed the challenge of his roles with St John, and said the organisation provided opportunities for everyone.
‘‘St John offers people from of all parts of the New Zealand community the opportunity to participate in community activities at varying levels.
‘‘It’s a real reflection of New Zealand society.’’
The investiture ceremony honoured both volunteers and paid staff for their outstanding contribution and dedication right across the organisation — including the emergency ambulance service, community health portfolios, support services, and governance.
