In a tent at the edge of the City Oval five green-clad volunteers enjoy a cup of coffee in the Ballarat sunshine.
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The St John Ambulance Brigade have come a long way from the familiar black uniforms with silver buttons and peaked caps of the past, but their job remains the same, says Sharon Monson.
“We used to wear skirts and stockings with lace-up shoes!”
Ms Monson is the St John Ambulance regional operations manager. She says planning for a big event like the Ballarat Beer Festival is a combination of experience, careful planning and cooperation with festival organisers.
“We’ve got two First Aid posts at the Beer Festival,” Ms Monson said, “and we have a vehicle here, and an undercover area up the top (of the grandstand).”
The St John Ambulance are often the first responders in an emergency at a concert or festival, because of their proximity. They will call on Regional Ambulance Victoria and other emergency services is the case warrants, but they will also deal with cases of heat exhaustion, sunburn and minor lacerations.