Historical information

St John Ambulance of Victoria was founded in 1883 to teach public First Aid classes in Victoria. In 1887 it commenced the first ambulance service in Melbourne until 1916 when it was taken over by the state. In 1965 the first Search and Rescue Squad was formed in Victoria. St john Ambulance members are volunteers who are often on stand-by at public events and called out to natural / extreme disasters.

Significance

This scarf may have been worn by a student learning first aid from a member of the St John Ambulance Association. It signifies that such classes were held in the Kiewa Valley.
April 1940 a four stretcher ambulance was developed for use on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. The design was modified for comparatively long and rough trips.

Physical description

Cream coloured triangular cotton scarf with 2 sides, a base and a point labelled. At the point is the logo of The St John Ambulance Association. The scarf has drawings all over it showing people and/or body parts bandaged with numbers on the bandages and the views labelled front, back etc.