Two long-serving NSW Ambulance Volunteers were recently honoured in ceremonies at the Wellington Station.
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Wellington volunteer Terry Melhuish was presented with a medal for 25 years dedicated service and Yeoval volunteer Peter Munro was presented with a medal for 20 years dedicated service.
NSW Ambulance volunteers play a vital role supporting on-duty paramedics in Wellington, and provide a first-response service in a fully equipped ambulance in Yeoval and the surrounding area.
The medals were presented by Wellington Station Officer Glen Flanagan.
Also present were, Inspector Jed Gollan and Paramedic Educator Geoff Kiehne ASM.
Mr Melhuish has been a Volunteer Ambulance Officer since 1988 and has accumulated over 5000 hours of service to date.
Mr Melhuish has responded to incidents with Wellington paramedics, as well as many single first responses over the years.
He is vigilant when it comes to maintaining his skills as a clinician, and prides himself on being up to date with the latest ambulance protocols, procedures and clinical advances.
Terryis also a Retained Firefighter with Fire & Rescue NSW, and volunteers with Legacy NSW, the Wellington Town Band and the Anglican Church.
Peter Munro has been an NSW Ambulance Volunteer since 1993, but his enthusiasm for ambulance started well before then.
He was a long standing member of the Yeoval Hospital Board, which was instrumental in the push for a Volunteer Ambulance Unit in the town.
He is the Team Leader of the Yeoval Unit, overseeing the day-to-day operations at a local level.
“One of the biggest changes that I have seen in that time is the introduction of the Government Radio Network. Before then, we had to rely on UHF radios and landlines in farm houses to communicate with the Control Centre.
“This was in the days before any mobile phones,” Mr Munro said.
Mr Munro has been involved in many successful patient outcomes, but said some will always remain in his mind.
“I will never forget being called to a 13 year old female having an asthma attack. The patient was gravely ill and may not have survived without urgent care.”
The successful resuscitation of the patient is one of the proudest moments of his ambulance career.
Recently, Mr Munro and a fellow volunteer successfully delivered a baby boy before the arrival of paramedics, a career first for both volunteers.
