Ouyen ACOs honoured for decades of service
November 20, 2024in Community News
Three Ouyen Ambulance Community Officers (ACOs) have been celebrated for a combined 65 years of service at the recent Ambulance Victoria (AV) Loddon Mallee Staff Service Awards.
Sally Allan was recognised for 30 years of service, Joel McClelland for 20 years in the role and Darryl Murphy received a 15 year award.
L-R: Ouyen ACOs Joel McClelland, Sally Allan and Darryl Murphy.
ACOs are First Responders employed on a casual basis to work on-call and are trained to provide advanced first aid in rural and remote communities.
A medical background is not required to apply and that was the case for Sally, who started as an ACO in Murrayville before moving onto Ouyen.
“I didn’t have first aid training but it was something I was interested in,” Sally said.
“I never expected I’d be doing it for so long and it still gives me a sense of purpose and achievement.
“I’ve always found it a privilege to be there for people on what’s often one of the toughest days in their life.”
For Joel, it’s a sense of care for her community and never knowing what to expect that keeps her coming back.
“I do it to look after the local community, and because I enjoy it,” she said.
“I tell people, when you think you’ve seen and done it all, just go and do one more shift.”
The trio were recognised at a recent awards event in Swan Hill, where paramedics and First Responders from across the region received honours for between 10 and 35 years of service at AV.