Our history

The Ladies' Auxiliary was a group of women who worked hard on getting the whole community behind keeping Wellington Free Ambulance free. Six decades later, she’s still very much at the heart of the organisation.

Shirley was 25 years old when her relationship with Wellington Free began. Close friends of founder Sir Charles Norwood and his wife, Shirley was recruited to be on the committee bringing with her bucket loads of passion and big ideas.

“It was about much more than filling the seats with bottoms,” she explains, “it was hard work.” She and the Auxiliary were responsible for raising every penny Wellington Free needed. “Unless we raised the money, we wouldn’t have ambulances or anything, so it was up to us to help the paramedics and get their new gear.”

The fundraising initiatives ranged from knocking on businesses’ doors to holding lavish events which were the talk of Wellington, and had people queuing to get in the door. “People knew who we were and what we were doing, so we had to be brave and go after the big money.”

Among Shirley’s highlights in the 50s was the first defibrillator the Ladies' Auxiliary were able to purchase. “And would you know it, the first time it was used, it was on one of my friends. It just goes to show you never know who will need the Free Ambulance,” she says.

Looking back, Shirley says she sees the Ladies’ Auxiliary as very small in comparison to today’s operations—but it was the first step, and those volunteers’ efforts ensured Wellington Free remained free to the communities they cared about.