In late 2008, Mike Willis, General Manager, Operations presented a Medal of Courage and Citation to Paramedic Gary Scott from Taree Station.

An extract from the citation reads:
Station Officer Andrew Chapman and Paramedic Gary Scott were dispatched to a rural address near Taree. Heavy rains had ceased late in the afternoon but the creeks were rising fast. The first creek they came to had already risen approximately one metre. Both officers decided to call the SES to provide a flood boat.

By the time the SES had arrived the creek had swollen to approximately 30 metres wide and flowing very fast. It was decided that only one officer should go across the flooded creek in case misadventure should occur and Station Officer Andrew Chapman drew the short straw. After stabilising the patient, he was transported to the SES flood boat and on the fourth attempt to make the crossing, the boat became tangled in submerged trees, unable to move due to a broken propeller shaft.

From the safety of the roadway, Paramedic Gary Scott could see the danger that the boat was in, as it was on the edge of the torrent, he realised it was only a matter of time before the boat was swept away. Paramedic Scott procured two snatchem straps from the Ambulance and joining them together, anchoring one end to the bullbar of the vehicle. His first attempt to throw a life line fell short, Paramedic Scott waded out into chest deep water and again threw the rope to the crew of the stricken boat. The SES personnel tied off the flood boat and then Paramedic Scott pulled the boat in to safety.

Working in extreme weather and under constant threat of being swept away Paramedic Scott exhibited considerable bravery, compassion and professionalism bringing credit to himself and the Ambulance Service of NSW.

Photograph: Paramedic Gary Scott with Mike Willis and Gary's wife Sue and son Nathan. > Back to top

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has introduced a short recorded voice announcement (RVA) for the Triple Zero (000) emergency call service. It is being introduced with the aim of reducing the 500,000 non-genuine calls received by Triple Zero each month.

Telstra, as the emergency call organisation for Triple Zero, has advised that for every genuine call there is another call that has been misdialled, is not an emergency or is malicious.

The four second RVA, introduced in December 2008, says: ‘You have dialled emergency Triple Zero. Your call is being connected.’ Callers will hear the message before being connected to an operator.

The announcement gives people who have accidentally dialled Triple Zero the chance to hang up before being connected to an operator, freeing the service up to receive genuine calls. It will also provide comfort to callers, confirming they have reached Triple Zero. > See 'Hoax Triple Zero (000) callers risking the lives of others'
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Six NSW Ambulance paramedics were awarded the Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) during the Australia Day Awards on Monday 26 January 2009.

Congratulations to Superintendents Jeffrey Woods, Hendrik Kruit, Jeffrey Gilchrist, Jennifer Van Cleef, Station Manager Norm Spalding and Intensive Care Paramedic Garry Vincent. > more information

About the Award
The ASM is awarded to a person in uniformed Australian ambulance services who has given distinguished service as a member of an ambulance service. Nomination for the Award must be made through the General Manager, Operations office. A supported nomination by Ambulance's Chief Executive is then recommended by the NSW Minister for Health for approval by the Governor-General. The award is presented by the State Governor during a designated function (during May or September) at Government House, Sydney. > Back to top

It's typical of the community service mentality that keeps Australia rolling: third-generation farmer, Jack Barnes, first signed up as a volunteer ambulance officer “because there was a shortage and in a small town you have to step up”.

It was that same “meeting a need” thinking that saw the central NSW silage producer blaze new trails in helping prevent and treat mental health problems in the country.

Twenty-five years after his first job as a volunteer ambo, Jack has been recognised as one of the State’s most valuable treasures, via the prestigious Regional Achievement and Community Awards. He was presented with the 2008 Regional Service Award at a gala dinner at Coffs Harbour where judges said he had dedicated his life to the wellbeing of others and that had made him a local hero.

It was quite an honour, Jack agrees, and when the local primary school put up “Congratulations Jacko” on their billboard the next day, it brought a tear to his eye. The quietly-spoken farmer said he was just doing what he was able and it was all very selfish of him really.

“I do it because I love it and I get so much out of it myself,” he said. “Saving a life, you walk around with your chest stuck so far out it’s not funny, and you make a friend for life.”

Article and photograph courtesy of "The Land".

Interested in volunteering? Go to the Ambulance website > Back to top

Project Murra is a joint initiative involving Ambulance, NSW Police, Department of Education and local indigenous employment agency Warrigal Employment where indigenous Year 11 and 12 students commit to a “traineeship” with either Ambulance or NSW Police Force for a two year period while studying their Higher School Certificate (HSC).

On Tuesday 20 January 2009, Greg Rochford, Chief Executive, Ambulance Service of NSW visited Wollongong Ambulance Station to welcome indigenous students into the project.

Mr Rochford discussed with the trainees the need for increased cultural awareness for all Ambulance employees and the need to increase our indigenous paramedic numbers. Mr Rochford also mentioned the need for students to work hard over the next few years as any effort they put in now would reap benefits far into the future.

Following completion of the HSC, these young people will have sufficient qualifications and hands-on experience to enable placement into the careers of pre-hospital care, nursing, policing or medical courses at university.

This is the only program of this type anywhere in Australia, and if successful it could be made more widely available to young people of all backgrounds and origins.

Photograph: A student receives first aid training during a simulated accident. > Back to top

Ambulance commenced operation of the second Augusta AW139 helicopter at the Sydney Helicopter Base on 22 December 2008. This followed extensive training of the pilots, crew, paramedics and doctors.

On 16 December a water training day was conducted in the Broken Bay, Barrenjoey and Pittwater area. The training involved certification of the paramedics to access and conduct a patient transfer from a moving vessel and ocean/surf rescues of patients. The Volunteer Coastal Patrol assisted on the day, making available three vessels for both access and safety support. One of the highlights for the public on Pittwater was to see the helicopter hovering meters above the moving rescue boat winching paramedics and “patients” from helicopter to boat and return. The open water training was conducted on the ocean side in breaking and moving water.

Ambulance helicopters provide a unique role in operations in that they undertake all types of missions. These range from the highly visible cliff, water and boat access and rescues, to landing on site at motor vehicle incidents, to retrieving patients to major trauma centres in the metropolitan areas and transporting patients with artificial heart and lung support requiring a team of anaesthetists and surgeons enroute.

The Augusta AW139 shown can cruise at over 300 kph and has an extensive range across the State with the capacity to take to intensive care patients. The helicopter is equipped with a 207kg winch capacity that reaches over 90 metres. From the public perspective all of the new helicopters are equipped with high technology systems to reduce the noise profile in urban areas. Ambulance will take delivery of a further AW139 and two Eurocopter EC145’s over the course of 2009. > Back to top

On Tuesday evening 16 December 2008, ten volunteers from the Gooloogong Unit of the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) graduated as Community First Responders.

The volunteers were congratulated by Ambulance and SES management on their hard work in achieving their accreditation noting that these volunteers will make a significant contribution to the safety of their local community. This is a great example of how Ambulance and the NSW State Emergency Service are working closely together to benefit people living in small communities.

The Gooloogong SES Unit is the 11th Unit from the NSW State Emergency Service to become accredited as Community First Responders with Ambulance. The program was developed by Ambulance in conjunction with the SES to train their volunteers from selected units in remote areas of NSW to provide emergency care to their community where professional ambulance resources availability may be limited.

These responders are supplied with a defibrillator, oxygen resuscitation and first aid equipment. They have communications with the responding paramedics and are able to deliver advanced first aid prior to their arrival. SES Community First Responders receive training by Ambulance educators in providing pre-hospital emergency care and are required to be available for on-call duty on a roster basis.

Interested in volunteering? Go to the Ambulance website > Back to top

Our youngest Triple Zero Star Award recipient for 2008, five year old Manilla pre-schooler Grace Spires was presented with her award by Paramedics Jerod Sutherland and Meryn Roberts.

Grace called Triple Zero (000) and spoke to Western Operations call takers Jodie Williamson and Julianne Young when her mum collapsed and had a seizure at the family home.

Little Grace did her best on the phone to describe where she was and was very distressed at not being able to wake up her mum. She tried to give directions to her property and waited out the front of the house for the paramedic crew and showed them where her mum was.

Jerod and Meryn were joined at the presentation by a number of television and newspaper media outlets with little Grace headlining local news.

Photograph: Paramedics Jerod Sutherland and Meryn Roberts with Grace Spires, her mum Katrina and two brothers.

For information designed for children on calling an ambulance visit the Ambulance website. Do you know of a child who has had to call the Ambulance Triple Zero (000) number. We would love to hear your story by contacting the Manager, Community Relations by email: mailto:community@ambulance.nsw.gov.au or tel: 9320 7795. > Back to top

Professor John Overton was presented with a drop ribbon for his contribution to the Ambulance Service of NSW on Wednesday 26 November 2008. Mr Greg Rochford, Chief Executive gave a snapshot of Professor Overton’s distinguished medical career.

John has had a 40-year association with Ambulance, being a co-founder of NSW Intensive Care Paramedics and is in fact an honorary paramedic. John continues to provide lectures to our ambulance paramedics.

It was a moving moment for Professor Overton as he was completely unaware that he would be presented with the award. Mr Rochford thanked John for all that he had done for Ambulance.

Professor Overton spoke of his love for Ambulance and the pleasure he attains from seeing paramedics return to Rozelle to further their education. Professor Overton said that he would wear his ribbon with pride.

Photograph: Professor Overton with AEC staff > Back to top

In a first for the State, Sofala Community First Responder (CFR), Sue Dodds is taking the leap from being a CFR to a full-time paramedic with Ambulance.

Sue has been a responder based at the small town of Sofala in the Bathurst region for the past two years. She began as a State Emergency Services volunteer but saw the need for an ambulance response in her town when she witnessed a young male suffer a cardiac arrest. The patient survived and when the opportunity arose, she and two other residents of Sofala took up the challenge.

“I have really enjoyed the challenge and the good feeling that comes with serving your local community,” Sue said.

Sue has a lot of praise for the Ambulance educators who have supported the CFR program and ultimately the needs of small communities.

Sue began her paramedic training in late 2008 and has commenced her probationary training at Bathurst. While she will turn her attention to training as a paramedic, she still intends to carry on as a CFR at Sofala on her days off.

Interested in volunteering? Go to the Ambulance website > Back to top

There's another side to Ambulance paramedics than providing pre-hospital care to the sick and injured. Just prior to Christmas, paramedics were called to two separate jobs at Christmas that motivated them to respond beyond their professional roles.

Paramedics help Villawood family
In early December 2008, a Fairfield crew were tasked to a case in Villawood. During the patient assessment and subsequent patient history, the paramedics discovered the family of five had lost their husband and father to cancer a couple of months earlier.

The attending crew decided that it would be a worth while venture to raise funds in order to purchase some Christmas presents for the family since it was obvious the family would not have the funds to celebrate Christmas. Later that week paramedics returned to follow up on the patient with the ulterior motive of gaining mums permission to assist the family with Christmas.

Over $1,300 was raised by Fairfield paramedics and other staff from the south west area to purchase gifts. While nothing can compensate for the loss of a father and husband, the efforts of staff involved was very much appreciated. The mother was very emotional and touched that a group of people showed such compassion and empathy for her and her family.

Paramedics come to rescue after Christmas tree burns
Camden and Sydney West paramedics came to the rescue of a family whose Christmas tree went up in flames, leaving their father badly hurt in hospital and destroying the children's presents.

As the community awoke for Christmas to the news of the Currans Hill family’s plight, Camden paramedics took up a collection to pay for replacement presents for the three children. It started a wave of generosity from across Sydney.

Camden paramedics were visited by media crews on Christmas Day and were congratulated for spreading real Christmas cheer. Crews said that once they had transported the children, parents and grandmother to Campbelltown Hospital they wanted to do something to help.

"There were so many young kids and it was Christmas Eve, it's not like there were a few days for them to go to the shops and try to pull something together. We raised about $400." Camden Paramedic Warren Boon told Channel Seven. > Back to top