weekly newsletter of st john ambulance australia (nt ... · just outside of hobart. ... and we were...
TRANSCRIPT
Page 1
On other pages this week:
National Cadet Camp
NT Grand Prior recipients
BGL Test Kits
Bupa Corporate Offer
Assessor Workshop
Apply Advanced First Aid
Memories of an old ambo
WHS Communicate
Bupa poster
Weekly Newsletter of St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Operations Branch Thursday 24 January 2013
Please send contributions to
Vollie News
Before 8.30pm Wednesday
Frank Dunstan 0429 886751
Newsletter editor
Volunteer Office Contacts:
Phone: 08 8922 6234
08 8922 6205
The Volunteer Office is delighted to welcome the newest member to their Community Education team. Regina Sellar (Alice Springs resident). The creation of this new position will allow the Community Education program to expand their services throughout the Alice Springs Region on a full time basis.
Kathy, Regina and Kelly
Below: Some pictures from Bob Walker who visited Darwin last year for a few months
and joined Darwin Adult Division. Bob is a member from NSW and attended the New
Year Eve Celebrations at Sydney Harbour... This is a duty with a view...
Vollie News Thursday 24th January 2013
Page 2
National Cadet Camp Tasmania 2013 – Hailee Skinner
Camp was held at Woodfield Camping grounds about an hour
just outside of Hobart. The contingent of 16 cadets and 3
adults included cadets from Nhulunbuy, Katherine and Band
Divisions. We would like to thank these Divisions for their
assistance with fundraising which helped greatly towards the
costs of both camp fees and flights. We were the second
largest contingent and also the most age diverse with ages
ranging from 12-18.
This year the cadet competitions included team tasks where
everyone had to set up a first aid post together and PR skills
formed a part of the competitions; competitors were quizzed
on their knowledge of the organisation including the history of
two well known Tasmanian St John members, community care
capitalise, cadets, adults, first aid kits and first aid courses
available. The NT competitors did very well in the
competitions and have spoken about the fun that they had
competing. The weather was certainly a change for us who are
used to the Tropics but no frostbite or hypothermia was
experienced! Before and during our time on camp the
Tasmanians were experiencing some devastating
bushfires. On the last night of camp an astonishing $750
was raised by the 120 campers.
The camp was great experience for all of the NT
contingent with many cadets this being their first time
away from home doing very well.
Vollie News Thursday 24th January 2013
Page 3
Northern Territory Grand Prior recipients 2012 – Hailee Skinner
The Grand Prior’s Award ceremony was held in Sydney,
2012. And there was a group of eight from the
Northern Territory. Shannon, Christine, Samara, Emily,
Angela, Leanne, Hayley (from Humpty Doo), and Kristy
(from Alice Springs). We all left Darwin (except for
Kristy) at approximately 7:30am on the 18th of May
2012, and arrived in Sydney at 12:30pm. We collected
our luggage, jumped on the bus and headed to where
we were staying, Blaxland. When we arrived we located
our beds and dumped our luggage into our room, then
we were back on the bus after a hasty lunch and
headed to Luna Park for a Youth Consultation. There we
listened to people talk about emergencies and the need
to have a fast and reliable system in place should the
need arise. We were split into groups and all given an
emergency to work on; our emergency was an
earthquake, and we had to come up with some of the
things we needed to do and have in case of one. After
this was over we were all given unlimited ride passes
and we were set free on the rides. We had to meet up
at 9pm so we could all jump back on the bus and take
the hour trip back to Blaxland.
The next day we were headed off to the Three Sisters
and the Blue Mountains, it was amazing! First we
stopped at the Three Sisters and had a look around,
back on the bus to Scenic World. There we were given
passes and we all headed down the mountain on the
steepest train in the world. When we reached the
bottom we walked around on one of the many trails
that spread around the foot of the mountain. Then we
headed back up on the sky rail. After lunch we headed
to Penrith Plaza were many of the groups went to the
movies, but we decided to go shopping. A couple of
hours later we were all shopped out, and we began the
journey back to Blaxland. Dinner that night was
amazing! All the tables had candles and fancy glasses
on them, and the food was delicious roast chicken with
potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, and gravy. After dinner we
headed to bed as we all had to get up at four in the
morning to be ready to travel into Sydney for the Grand
Prior’s Breakfast.
It was three degrees when we woke up the next day.
We all piled onto the bus grateful for the heaters in it!
We arrived at the Grand Prior’s Breakfast at seven and
there we saw some awards being handed out. After the
breakfast we headed to Paddy’s Market and then to
Darling Harbour Plaza. After lunch we got back on the
bus and headed to where we were going to get our
awards, Sydney University. When we arrived we got
into our uniforms and made sure we looked our best.
Then we headed into the chapel. As we nervously
checked our names in and took a seat we got a look at
the beautiful room that we were in. Slowly the names
of the 96 Grand Prior awardees got called until...it was
our turn. We made our way up to the front where the
Lord Prior, Professor Anthony Mellow, on behalf of the
Grand Prior, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester,
awarded us our badge and our certificate which was on
a wooden plaque. We headed back to our seats. After
the service went to the reception and then gradually
trickled back onto the bus. Some of the other state
participants were heading back home that night, so
after dropping them off at the airport we headed back
to Blaxland in a now very empty bus. After dinner that
night we decided to play spotlight and when we finally
headed to bed it was past twelve.
The next morning after breakfast we had to say
goodbye to our new friends, as we headed from
Blaxland for the last time. When we reached the
Sydney Airport at around lunch time we boarded our
plane and headed back to Darwin and home. It was a
wonderful time, and a great experience.
Vollie News Thursday 24th January 2013
Page 4
Memories of an old ambo– Alan Caust OStJ JP
It was 1979 in Darwin. All us guys had come from a total male-orientated background as Ambulance Officers and apart from Mandy Langdon in Comms there was nary a female on our professional staff. The only other females on staff were in Administration. Mandy would I believe been the very first appointed female Ambulance Officer under the then St. John Council in the NT and of course before 1979.
Rumours had been circulating about some Government stuff about we had to employ women Ambulance Officers!! OMgosh - no way! There was total resistance to this idealism - it was unheard of as us guys were guys. I still remember fervent discussions between us guys like "Who's gonna back us up in a fight?" and "They can't lift a stretcher!" and even so far as to say - "They'll just cry at something and run away from the scene"!
There was total resistance from us guys - but Management were literally "forced" under equal opportunity legislation to employ female Ambulance Officers. It had been resisted for too long. (Don't get me wrong - it was a great advent to our Ambulance Service in the NT and to this day!). Us guys became confused - and I mean totally confused!
So, along came females onto our staff. Wow! I will never forget at the Casuarina Centre a senior Ambo walking past an Ambulance. A female Ambulance Officer was struggling to lift out of the ambulance one of our really
heavy blue trauma cases - and they were heavy. I was busy polishing a tyre... She cooweed out to him and asked for some help. He snapped back at her - and I will never forget his words - "You're paid the same as the guys - do it yourself! I was shocked. Of course I helped her and we became good mates.
We were called to a rape case in a local area near Casuarina. The woman had been beaten to a pulp. I was treating her and went to just also hold her hand in reassurance - she started screaming. A soft voice spoke over my shoulder - it was my new mate. I instinctively knew and backed away; it was my gender that had violated her. My colleague could do more for that beaten woman in trauma that I could ever attempted to do in reassurance.
That was my start so to speak in realising for myself how valuable it actually is in having mixed crews in gender. I went though similar when I started my nursing career as a male nurse into a female dominated world. It ain't easy and I have kids and so on. I think I understand a little better now......
I sincerely hope so.
Mandy Langdon was the first female ambulance officer employed in Australia, being in the very first intake of paid ambos for St John in the Territory. She started on 2nd February 1976, followed a week later by Beth Dollisson (Shepherd).
Vollie News Thursday 24th January 2013
Page 5
BGL test kits – Mark Ferguson
It has come to light that there has been a change in the
BGL machines – with a split between Hospital and
Consumer products – with separate machines and test
strips for each. Abbott Medical has agreed this morning to
replace all the consumer machines we have with the
Hospital machine.
Could I ask that all centres provide ASAP the model and
serial number of all BGL Test machines – this includes any
that may be in FR / Walk around kits or in volunteer
vehicles.
You may find the following machines (written across the
face of the machine)-
Optium Exceed machines that will take any strips
Optium Freestyle machines will only take strips from a
yellow box
Optium Freestyle H machines will only take strips from a
blue box
Optium machines – I am still trying to work out what they
take!
If you have any questions please give me a call
Bupa Corporate Offer
Volunteers can now access the same Corporate Offer as all NT St John Ambulance Paid Employees with Bupa Until February 28th 2013 we are offering the choice of three special offers for any new joins-
1) New Balance gift voucher - $100 for singles or $200 for non-single membership
2) endota spa gift pack – 1 x 30 min massage & product pack (valued at $118) or 2 x 30 min massage & product pack for non-single membership (valued at $236)
or 3) 2 & 6 month waiver on extras
Contact the Volunteer Office for more info and
see the poster on page 7
Assessor Workshop
When: Saturday 16th February, 2013
Where: Casuarina Centre TH 4
Time: 0900 to 1700
All Operations Branch Assessors in the Darwin,
Batchelor and Katherine region are required to attend
Morning, Afternoon teas and Lunch provided
RSVP Due by Wednesday 12th February, 2013
Topics covered: ARC Changes, Assessors List
(Requirements of an assessor), First Aider, First Responder
Accreditation (Booklet handouts for FA and FR) & FR
Reaccreditation Programs,
Questions etc, Working through the 2013 FRR booklet
For further information contact…
8922 6205 or email [email protected]
Apply Advanced First Aid
When: Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th
February, 2013
Where: Parap Centre
Time: Friday 1800 - 2200
Saturday 0800 - 1700
Sunday 0800 - 1700
Pre-requisites – Current Apply First Aid or Senior
First Aid certificate.
Nominations and TA17 due by 1st February,
2013. Workbooks will need to be collected from
the Volunteer Office and completed prior to
course.
Lunch on Sunday will be provided. Morning and
afternoon teas on Sat & Sun
All Nominations must go through your
Superintendent.
ALL ENQUIRIES TO:
Volunteer Office
Ph 89226234