Richard Matenga, Amanda Pickering, Glen Flanagan, Doug Ney, Owen and Mark.
Billy-B-Safe is a replica ambulance that Wellington paramedics have taken to community events for kids to play in for years.
It is large enough for children to sit in and has a TV on the front with footage of an ambulance driving through traffic with the lights and siren going.
It also has a steering wheel and pedals so the kids can hop in and pretend they are driving an ambulance.
“In addition to having fun it gives children an opportunity to meet their local paramedics, that way if we have to attend their houses it is not so daunting for them,” local paramedic Glen Flanagan said.
“The other advantage is it gives us the opportunity to get the message across to children about the importance of dialing Triple-0 in an emergency, and we talk them through the process.”
Billy-B-Safe had always been very popular with the children in the community, but the trailer used to transport it fell into disrepair and paramedics were unable to use it.
Earlier in the year they approached overseer of Community Projects, Doug Ney from the Wellington Correctional Centre and asked if the trailer could be restored as part of community service work and Doug and his management were only too happy to help out.
The trailer is now fully restored and ready to go back on the road.
“They have done a fantastic job with a new drop down tailgate, several modifications to the trailer, a sophisticated anchoring system as well as the trailer being fully enclosed and painted,” Mr Flanagan said.
Billy-B-Safe can now be stored safely and transported to community events throughout the region.
The majority of the materials were supplied by the Ambulance Service of NSW but material was also donated from Metroll in Dubbo and Notts Rural and Domestic in Wellington and Mr Flanagan thanked them for their support.
“Like any project there were extra costs that we hadn’t expected and these were met by the paramedics of Wellington out of their own pockets which I am grateful for,” he said.
“This has been a great team effort that will benefit the children of Wellington and surrounding towns and I would like to thank Doug and his team for all their hard work.”
