The Gisborne Ambulance Auxiliary celebrated 50 years of service at its station last Friday, with dignitaries, media outlets and paramedics in attendance.
Visitors included Mary Anne Thomas MP and CEO of Ambulance Victoria, Jordan Emery, who showed appreciation for the volunteer group that has raised vital funds for the station, particular during the 1970s when the town relied on a sole paramedic.
Current treasurer of the auxiliary Patricia Kaye has volunteered in the role since the auxiliary’s inception in 1975. She estimated the group had raised more than $700,000 for the station across the past five decades.
“We bought an ambulance first, and we set up in a house where the officer lived, and we operated out of there for a while. People were waiting for ambulances for ages, because they didn’t come from Melbourne, because we were classed as rural,” Mrs Kaye said.
“I’ve been very involved in the community and other things, but the ambulance was very important, and we desperately needed a station, and we went about getting it. All the ideas we had were lots of great ideas for fundraising, like antique fairs, art shows, bingo, square dancing. We did everything possible, and then we started the (Gisborne) Olde-Time market,” Mrs Kaye said.
“Whatever we could make a dollar out of, we tried.”
The Olde-Time market still runs today on the first Sunday of each month and is a staple point of trade and tourism in Gisborne. For the auxiliary, it helped them raise vital funds.
“We raised the money for the helicopter pad from the Olde Market,” Mrs Kaye said.
“We don’t physically raise money anymore because we’re all getting a bit old, but when the paramedics and the guys at the station need something we buy it for them.”
Mary Anne Thomas MP said the celebration was an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of Mrs Kaye and current-serving paramedics who recently had a new member join their ranks two weeks ago.
“To think that the community had to fundraise for everything. And now, we have this amazing new station,” Ms Thomas said.
“Things are looking really bright for Ambulance Victoria here and particularly in Macedon Ranges where we’ve always had the good fortune to be served by extraordinary paramedics.”
