ST John Ambulance NSW’s southern region superintendent Chris Chant has resigned from his post after revelations he falsely claimed a prestigious bravery award.
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And the first aid service has confirmed he will not be replaced, as St John’s undergoes a restructure that will see all regional superintendent positions in NSW made redundant.
Mr Chant yesterday confirmed he had left the organisation but refused to go into detail, responding “no comment” to all questions.
The Border Mail reported in March that Mr Chant, 48, had been wearing a bravery award he was not entitled to alongside other military and St John’s service medals.
St John’s conducted an investigation into the Wodonga man last April, but did not disclose this publicly until The Border Mail began asking questions.
Yesterday, St John’s NSW general manager Rod O’Donnell confirmed Mr Chant had resigned but he would not provide any other information on when or why he had stood down.
“I can say Mr Chant is no longer with St John’s,” he said.
Asked when Mr Chant would be replaced, Mr O’Donnell revealed the organisation was undergoing a restructure and all regional superintendent positions were gone.
“Obviously with a restructure that takes a bit of time to bed down, but I can say the position as it was no longer exists,” he said.
Attention was drawn to Mr Chant’s claims after a website devoted to uncovering military imposters said he had claimed he earned a bravery commendation while serving in the Army Reserves after rescuing a number of people from a burning car wreck.
Mr Chant conceded at the time there were “elements of truth” to the allegations, but declined to comment any further.
“It’s a difficult issue ... there’s more to it than that,” he said in March.
“I don’t want to comment ... but there’s two sides to every story.”
Mr Chant’s name does not appear on the online honour roll It’s An Honour for any bravery commendations.
A spokesperson from Government House, which is responsible for all Australian awards, stated: “The Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General has no record of Mr Christopher Tony Chant receiving an Australian bravery decoration”.
Mr Chant was awarded the Order of Australia Medal last year for community work, including Rotary, Scouts Australia and work as a civil celebrant.
Just prior to this honour in January last year, he assisted a young woman at the scene of a crash on Wodonga’s Lincoln Causeway.
