Australia Day awards for rural officers

Two Rural Ambulance Victoria paramedics have been awarded Australia Day Ambulance Service Medals.

Area Manager Laurie Spelling, now stationed in Wangaratta, received the award for his outstanding personal contribution to the development and provision of ambulance services.

This included his work toward the establishment and coordination of the technical/clinical standards and protocols of the original seven metropolitan Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) units.

In rural Victoria, Officer Spelling was instrumental in mobilising the local communities to support the delivery of ambulance services.

He also had significant involvement in coaching ‘front line’ personnel to accept new ideas during a period of significant organisational change.

Other significant events in Officer Spelling’s 30-year career in ambulance include an active and personal contribution to the successful amalgamation of the Peninsula Ambulance Service with the now Metropolitan Ambulance Service.

He has also helped develop community and auxiliary support for ambulance service in North Western Victoria.

Heathcote Station Officer Danny Lumby was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal for his exceptional service in the provision of training, public education, developing community participation and outstanding leadership within Rural Ambulance Victoria.

During Officer Lumby’s 24 years in ambulance he has been responsible for developing the Heathcote branch from a tin shed into a modern facility through not only extensive personal effort but also motivating and engendering community support and participation.

Highlights of Officer Lumby’s career have included the establishing the Heathcote Ambulance Auxiliary and the auxiliary opportunity shop, coordinating community resources to enable the construction of the helipad at Heathcote Hospital and serving as a member of the Heathcote Hospital Board.

Officer Lumby has also made an active contribution to improving vehicle standards as a member of the Rural Ambulance Victoria Vehicle Development Group and the current New Vehicle Evaluation.