Top Honours for Ambulance Victoria’s Finest

January 26, 2021 | in News

Jemima Tawse – Ambulance Service Medal Recipient

Ambulance Victoria is proud to recognise the outstanding achievements of many of our people working across the state who have today been formally acknowledged for their commitment and contribution.

Five paramedics and two Ambulance Community Officers (ACOs) have been awarded an Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) recognising the care and leadership they contribute to their patients, peers, and communities.

In another nod of recognition, the Indigo Shire has awarded Ambulance Victoria’s dedicated Chiltern ACO team, located in the state’s North East, their Community Group of the Year award.

Chiltern’s 15 ACOs are part of Ambulance Victoria’s 1400-strong First Responder teams who are integral to delivering a world class ambulance service for Victoria.

Lynne Emblin, ACO Chiltern Team Leader, said she was delighted to accept the award on behalf of her team.

“We’ve been in the community for more than 15 years and while we don’t do it for the recognition, it’s wonderful to be acknowledged,” Lynne said.

Ambulance Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer, Associate Professor Tony Walker, said these award recipients are outstanding contributors in their towns and amongst their peers.

“These leaders and mentors have each made a unique contribution to their community and to Ambulance Victoria and have gone above and beyond their roles to improve patient outcomes and support their colleagues.” Associate Prof. Walker said.

“It’s a privilege to serve the community and an honour to be recognised in this way.”

Meet our Ambulance Service Medal Recipients for 2021:

Joanne Algie – along with her peer dog Lexi, Jo played a pivotal role in the aftermath of the 2020 bushfires in Gippsland, providing great comfort and care to those whose homes and lives were devastated by tragedy. Jo also leads the Recycling AV Uniforms group and has repurposed thousands of uniforms for those in need around the world.
Graham Mummery – in his 37 years with Ambulance Victoria, Graham has demonstrated service beyond the norm through his longevity as a Clinical Instructor and mentor to many graduating paramedics. In addition, Graham is an accomplished musician and has provided creative vision and ongoing support to the Ambulance Victoria Pipes and Drums band.
Michael Ray – affectionately known as “The GoodSAM Guy”, Michael has dedicated time and effort to community-based strategies that strengthen critical early links in the chain of survival for cardiac arrest patients. His commitment saw him lead the development of Ambulance Victoria’s AED register and the successful and continued growth of the GoodSAM project.
Jemima Tawse – Jemima has shown a passionate desire to make a difference as a frontline paramedic. The recent partnership between Ambulance Victoria and TLC for Kids is the product of her hard work, tenacity and empathy in the care she provides her patients. Jemima has also gone above and beyond for her AV community, organising a number of twilight educational sessions for her peers.
Shaun Whitmore – a clinical leader and devoted Peer Support Officer within AV’s Air Ambulance team, Shaun’s ability to relate to the emotional, psychological, technical, and clinical aspects of a case cannot be understated. His commitment to high quality patient care represents the profession of paramedicine admirably.
Gregory Fithall – over the past two decades, Greg has performed his role as an Ambulance Community Officer with unwavering personal dedication to community service and engagement. He has demonstrated diligence and self-sacrifice, often having to forsake personal commitments to fulfil his duties as an ACO, for which AV and the community are sincerely indebted.
Kathleen Poulton – a long history of involvement in the local ambulance service has seen Kathleen continually support and provide mentorship to her colleagues. She has promoted the importance of first aid, CPR and defibrillation within her local community and is highly regarded for her compassion, evident in the high-quality care she provides.

To all our 2021 award recipients, Congratulations and thank you for your service to the Victorian community.