The long overdue renovation of the Alexandra St John base is "tantalisingly close", members were told at a recent awards ceremony.
Acting Alexandra area chairman Darrel Robinson said he was privileged to have overseen the "amicable split" of the Vincent area of St John last year into two separate governing committees, Alexandra and Cromwell, because of the district's growth.
The Alexandra area recently held its first awards evening to mark members' service and the contribution made by community organisations.
"As far as the revamp of the Alexandra building is concerned, we are tantalisingly close.
We've had good support from the Central Lakes Trust and the Community Trust of Otago, some bequests and good support from the Alexandra community.
We have an application in to another charitable trust for funding and will find out the outcome this week, so keep your fingers crossed."
The upgrade of the building interior has been estimated to cost about $440,000.
The building houses six permanent staff, about 20 volunteers, two ambulances and a van.
"We've just about got all the resources we need and once the stars are all aligned, it will happen," Mr Robinson said.
Deputy chairwoman of the St John Southern Region Trust Board, Pauline Beattie, from the Maniototo, said she looked forward to "signing off" the renovation.
Service award recipients were Annemarie Hope-Cross, Kim Matheson and John Affleck (all six years), Graham Sinclair (nine years), Wayne Harper (17 years) and Eric Schusser (22 years).
Donations from the Central Singers and RSA Gentlemen's Choir and the Alexandra Dunstan Lions Club were also acknowledged.
