Mr Wilson thanked the Palmerston volunteers who had joined St John. Sixteen Palmerston and East Otago volunteers had now been trained and the Palmerston ambulance station was almost fully staffed.
He presented a plaque to the principal of East Otago High School, Lennox Sharp, in recognition of the support the school had given to the training of the volunteers.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton said that rural communities built themselves and the new St John ambulance station was part of the community development in Palmerston.
The importance of the Palmerston station was it would speed up travel for patients being taken by ambulance to Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said.
More than 200 people attended the official opening. The St John ambulance station at Palmerston had been refurbished by local contractors and volunteers, the master of ceremonies Order of St John Dunedin chairman Joyce Whyman said.
