Katherine Seventh-day Adventist Church attendee Rebekah Tierney was announced as “New Practitioner of the Year” for St John Ambulance Australia (NT) during an awards ceremony at Parliament House in Darwin on November 28.
Ms Tierney moved to Katherine at the end of 2018 to complete her new grad year with St John Ambulance as a paramedic.
Of particular note for Ms Tierney was the integral role she played in the rescue of a female hiker who became trapped under a boulder during a rockslide along the remote Jatbula Trail in the Nitmiluk National Park. As St John Ambulance’s response, Ms Tierney was carried by a small helicopter to the woman’s remote location where she provided lifesaving care and treatment until emergency services arrived with hydraulic equipment to free the patient five hours later. The woman was then airlifted to Royal Darwin Hospital via a rescue helicopter.
St John NT CEO Judith Barker congratulated all nominees and recipients for being role models within their profession and the community.
“Tonight’s recipients often go above and beyond the call of duty, clearly displaying St John NT’s values of integrity, respect, quality, dedication and compassion,” shed said. “It is an honour to work with such highly skilled and compassionate professionals.”
St John Ambulance’s annual Excellence Awards celebrate and recognise paramedics, staff and volunteers who demonstrate excellence in leadership or clinical practice, an outstanding level of care, professionalism and compassion for members of the Northern Territory community.
