About Us

Sue is very community-minded, volunteering her time with a wide range of local organisations. At one stage, Sue recalls managing seven different street appeals at once but to Sue, it doesn’t feel like too much because she “loves doing it and helping organisations out”.

A cause close to her heart

Sue volunteers as a Onesie Street Collector because she believes Wellington Free is “a very good cause. I love the staff, they’re all absolutely brilliant. Everyone loves to support a cause and Wellington Free Ambulance is a great one.”

Sue has plenty of first-hand knowledge and experience of this. Not only has her mother-in-law used our services, but her two sons have over the years – and Sue herself. As well as having a nasty fall in front of Wellington Hospital, which our emergency ambulance crew attended, Sue used the patient transfer service while she underwent chemotherapy. 

Sue reflects that “I’ve been so grateful every time I’ve used Wellington Free’s services” – and this is mainly because of our people that Sue describes as “a breed of their own, especially when it comes to their kindness.”

“At times, they’ve had me in hysterics which is what you need when dealing with things like cancer. I’d be sat in the waiting area, ready for Wellington Free to pick me up and a member of staff would walk through the door with a big smile and say something like ‘hello, you back again?!’

“It was always so lovely and delightful.”

“I can’t help but choose to help people like that.”

Sue has developed close relationships with our staff over the years, including Extended Care Paramedic Sarah. Sue remembers being on the phone to Sarah one time, having a bad coughing fit when she had to hang up to catch her breath. A few minutes later, Sue was amazed to see “Sarah coming around the corner with another paramedic, to check how I was feeling!”

‘Sue the baker’

Street collecting isn’t the only way Sue’s given back over the years. Thanks to us getting Sue to the hospital multiple times when she underwent chemotherapy, she explains that “I wanted to show my appreciation somehow. I don’t have money, but I can bake which was my way of saying thank you.”

That led Sue to whipping up delicious treats for the local Kāpiti paramedics. Sue fondly remembers paramedics arguing over who would get the last piece of her most popular treat: shortbread!

A Onesieful Street Collector

Although our Street Collectors don’t have to wear a onesie, Sue laughs that she “always wears one!” She has two – one grey, and one blue – both of which she’s customised with glitter and colourful add-ons. She’s planning a revamp of the grey one ahead of this year’s Street Collection.

For people thinking about signing up to be a Street Collector, Sue says “just go for it! The time you give to Wellington Free Ambulance is well worth the effort.”

Her advice?

“Don’t hesitate. You’ll have so much fun, meet so many interesting people, and every cent helps. It’s well worth it. Just tell Wellington Free, ‘Yes please - pop my name down!’.”

Fancy being like Sue? Sign up to be a Onesie Street Collector today! Please join us in saying a huge thanks to Sue for generously sharing her story and for her commitment and years of support.