At 91 years old, Allan Gray has more stories than most of us could hope to collect in a lifetime, and every one of them seems to circle back to a single theme: giving. How he gifts communities with lifesaving St John G5 defibrillators might surprise you.

When you meet Allan, his humour is the first thing that strikes you. The second is his energy. Despite caring for his wife and passing his ninetieth birthday, Allan still works three days a week in the four-wheel drive industry, an area where he is something of a living legend. He jokes that he is “the face of the business for the world,” and the truth is, many offroad enthusiasts treat him exactly that way. People from across Australia and far beyond regularly call him seeking advice, sometimes even holding their phone up to the engine so Allan can diagnose a problem by sound alone.

But Allan’s reputation extends far beyond mechanical know-how.

Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2021 for his contribution to community welfare, Allan has spent decades putting others first. He has volunteered for more than ten years with the St Vincent de Paul Soup Van program, walking the streets of Melbourne each week to support people experiencing homelessness. He speaks about those nights with deep respect, saying he goes out “to be schooled by the people on the streets”, a reflection of his belief that dignity, compassion and humility are essential to service.

His generosity, however, doesn’t stop at volunteering. Allan has always looked for practical ways to fill the gaps he sees around him. Over the years he has:

• Funded glasses for children who couldn’t afford them
• Bought meals for people going hungry
• Repaired and gifted bicycles to kids who needed transport or something to call their own
• Encouraged community members to give small amounts, even $2 a day, that collectively raised thousands for people in need

And in the most Allan-Gray way possible, he once received a luxury watch as a recognition award, only to sell it and donate the proceeds, helping provide support to The Fred Hollows Foundation, amongst other organisations, delivering lifesaving care to hundreds of people overseas. When questioned about it later, he simply explained that the money was doing far more good in the world than a watch sitting on his bedside table ever could.

Most recently, Allan has turned his efforts toward something close to St John’s heart: community safety. Although Allan is not involved with St John as a volunteer, he has been purchasing and donating multiple St John G5 defibrillators, which he chooses specifically for their functionality and ease of use, for local areas including Sunbury and Broadmeadows. Using his own savings, he ensures each device is registered with GoodSAM so they can be accessed in an emergency. His motivation is simple: to protect those who don’t have easy access to lifesaving equipment.

“I look after other people, that’s what keeps me going and keeps my priorities in order,” Allan says. It’s a statement that perfectly captures his life philosophy. He often adds, with a smile, that even if he ever ends up broke from giving, he knows exactly where he can always get “a piece of bread and a cup of soup.”

A churchgoer, a tireless volunteer, a mentor, a community advocate, a husband, a worker, a storyteller… Allan is many things. But above all, he is a reminder of the great impact one person can make when generosity becomes a way of life.

From everyone at St John, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Allan for his extraordinary contributions to the Melbourne community, and for showing that kindness, resilience and purpose can carry us far beyond our years.