Determined to help in any future emergencies, the then 14yearold made a decision which would change the course of his life.

Mr Ryan signed up with the Richmond division of the St John Ambulance cadets, the start of 64 years of dedication to the community.

Although he moved to Werribee in the early 1960s, Mr Ryan continued his involvement with Richmond until the mid-1960s, when he helped establish the Werribee division of the service, now known as Wyndham.

In 1968, Mr Ryan started Werribee cadets and continues to teach them today.

He has also assisted with educational services around the community and held roles such as superintendent, reserve and private.

"One of my ex-cadets, Michael Wells, is now a paramedic and flies the MICA chopper, while many girls have become nurses," he said.

"At St John, we get the chance to help people when they need it the most and, along with the comradeship, that makes it all worthwhile."

Mr Ryan has also been a volunteer with the Werribee CFA preparing first-aid kits, assisting around the station in various roles.

For the past 42 years, he has put his first-aid skills and techniques into practice as a trainer with the Werribee Football Club.

Over the years. he has strapped thousands of players and tended to countless torn hamstrings.

"I enjoy it. You get to meet lots of different blokes, and it's satisfying when you see players who you have treated like Ben Hudson and Dale Morris move to the AFL," he said.

"On match day, I start about 9am and finish cleaning up at about 6pm - it's a great club."

St John Ambulance Wyndham division superintendent Tony Mesman said Mr Ryan was the longest-serving, active member of the organisation in Victoria.

"He teaches the cadets every Tuesday night and helps with the training of the adults on Mondays," he said.

"He still goes out on duty to events at the MCG and Telstra Dome and last weekend he was out at the motocross in Bacchus Marsh."

Werribee Football Club chief executive Mark Penaluna said Mr Ryan was always one of the first to arrive and the last to leave the rooms.

"Tiger is one of the people at the club you can rely on to go beyond the call of duty," Penaluna said.

"He is the epitome of what makes a successful club.

"He's a father figure, and whether you're a first year or a 10-year player he treats everybody equally.

"We would be lost without him."