Dedication to St Johns in 1982 recognised.

Richard Wilkinson is the district commissioner of the St Johns in Invercargill but the rest of the hierachy are all women
with the recent appointment of Miss Phyllis Duggan as district superintendent for Southland.  This means that the three women in top posts are'; Dr Heather Thomson as medical officer, and Mrs Pauline Rout as the chairwoman.

Phyllis Duggan as been appointed officer-sister of the order of St John New Zealand and will be one of the three women to attend an investiture by the Governor-General, Sir David Beattie in the Dunedin Town Hall on Sunday June 20th.
A member of the Gore combined division, Miss Elizabeth Mackay will be invested with the rank as serving sister along with Mrs Loran O'Connor of Riversdale.  
Phyllis Duggan has given 30 years service to St Johns and is known by every netball player in Southland for her committment at the first aid post every Saturday the netball is played.  She is also involved in the St John's Meals on Wheels and has held office in the Hospitallers Club.  Miss Duggan a quiet and dedicated woman has not only earnt respect from St Johns members but the public of Southland due to her many years of work in public duties. 
Miss Mackay, divisional officer in Gore, is a specialist in tutoring CPR and she has passed on this life saving skill to many people over the years.  A Member of St John for the last 22 years she is valued for her work as a tutor .
Other Southlanders to be invested are Mr M. Leigh Downer, formerly of Invercargill but now living in Alexandra.  Dr D.B Hewat of Wyndham and Mrs B. O'Connell of Invercargill who was promoted last year but investiture takes place this month.