By Robin Wark

Ann Del Farrish passed away Jan. 18 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in her 50th year, after battling cancer. Since coming to Port Renfrew in 1990, Farrish was active in different community groups and will be remembered for her work as the local ambulance station's unit chief. "She was a huge asset to the community," said Tim Cash, president of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce. "We need more people like Ann Del in town."

Ann Del Farrish

Farrish was key member in the creation of the PRHSSS' Emergency Services Cadets program. The program is for children ages nine to 19 and gave them exposure to preliminary training for ambulance, police, fire and search and rescue. This was a fitting program for Farrish to be involved in, as through the B.C. Ambulance Service she helped train many young paramedics. Because of the way the system worked, the majority of recently hired paramedics were sent to Port Renfrew and into the care of Farrish.

"She was mom to literally hundreds," said Glenn Wainman, the Sooke unit chief, who noted Farrish will also be remembered for her infectious laughter. Wainman said she was able to orient the new employees to their surrounding remarkably well. She often went out with the crew as an "extra" to help. Wainman also said Farrish was well known for listening to her young paramedics.

The superintendent for the B.C. Ambulance Vancouver Island South Division feels Farrish leaves pretty big shoes for someone to step into. "It is going to be hard to find someone with her dedication and drive," Ken Bowes said.

Farrish had the unenviable task of being a volunteer with a stipend leading an ambulance station that was about two hours from a hospital. "She was the stop gap between Sooke and the Carmanah Valley," Wainman said. "That's a big area to be responsible for." Bowes said it is something of an anomaly for Farrish to have spent her entire career in Port Renfrew. Bowes said he feels this is just an indication of her passion for the community.

The superintendent spoke with Farrish about a week and a half before her death and even then he said she was talking about the ambulance service and serving Port Renfrew. As well as being a skilled paramedic, Farrish had talents and interests in other areas. Wainman said it was always interesting to sit near her at a meeting to see what she would doodle. She also was interested in music and anthropology.

Farrish was born Feb. 27 in 1953 in Frankfurt, Kentucky. She is survived by her husband of 10 years Elmer "Joe" Farrish, mother Ernestine Smith, and father Bill Smith, sister Connie Tyler, brother Roger Smith, grandmother Lois Henderson, five aunts and two uncles. A service was held Saturday at the Strawberry Vale Hall.