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Leo Cartwright

Traralgon Victoria

Australia

Profile Information:

Type of Organization: EMS/Rescue Squad/Hospital EMS - Paid
Job Function: Retired
Years in Fire/EMS:: 37 yrs
Primary Fire/EMS Department:: Retired \ Communications Centre
Years With Department/Agency: 37
Dept. Web Site:: http://ambulance.vic.gov.au
Web Site:: http://ses.vic.gov.au
Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations: The SES as mentioned is locally responsible for Road Crash Rescue; Land Search; Boating Search; Flood and Storm damage and recovery.
Very few Fire Services out side Metropolitan Melbourne carry out Road Crash Rescues in this state.
Its different over here where Fire Services are not combined in all rescues as it is in the USA. The Fire Service; Ambulance Services; Police and State Emergency Service are separate identities, but at the end of the day they work well together.
My Training:: Good Heavens where do I start: I have always had the sight to help as a young boy of 17 I joined St John Ambulance, (a well known volunteer organisation around the world) There I have given some 27yrs broken service to them and the community. At 18 I was a volunteer FireFighter with the Noble Park Fire Brigade. So both of these took up most of my time as a youth; Not Boring U yet??
At 25 I joined the Ambulance Service Victoria (Peninsula) and the rest is history.
This work became to involved and I gave the FireFighting away, but there will aways be a Light there for every FireFighter no matter where. 911 was a good example of where FireFighters past and present felt the sadness and related to the senseless of it it all.
About Me:: Yes I am married still to my first wife, ( I hope I do not have to explain that) I am a Justice of the Peace for the State of Victoria. I Like to collect shoulder Patches/Service Badges from all over the world, so feel free to contact me and send as many as U like.
I Became O.I.C. of the Traralgon Ambulance Station 1989. Involved in Paramedic challenges Vs other Paramedics. Lectured at Monash University for Paramedic Students. Involved in Training of new students paramedics. Managed a First Aid department for the Ambulance Service where FA courses were taught to the general public and Companies. Return to on the Road work, injured my back severally and now work full time in our 000 (911) Communication Centre.
I am a World accredited Medical Assessor for Road Crash Rescue. In July 2008 traveled to Wales (UK) and assessed 30 teams in 3 days.
I don't seam to have much time for the outdoors anymore, anyway the days of lying on the ground staring at the stars are over thanks to my back injury.
Day Job:: Retired Paramedic
Relationship Status:: Married
Facebook or Other Online Profile:: http://lecart1@bigpond.com
Why I Joined Fire/EMS: Was a volunteer firefighter, then had an inkling to join the emergency services. I then joined Ambulance Service Victoria. I was stationed at Dandenong outside of Melbourne then moved to my present address in regional country Victoria in 1986.
From there on the story grows bigger and bigger, It a life I wouldn't change for the world.
Why I Love Fire/EMS: self satifaction, The spark it puts in my life.
Top Issues Facing Responders:: Like most emergency services; We the Worker are our own worst enemy when it comes to recognition of of our work in the public eye.
Non recognition of staff by non operational senior management.
Wages will always be an issue, never enough.

Comment Wall:

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Mike

Hi Leo, I'd like to trade patches with you. I just retired from the Tacoma Fire Dept after 38 wonderful years as a FF/Paramedic. I was a medic for the City of Tacoma for 33 years and I don't think my record will be broken.Anyway send me your address and I'll get a patch in the mail for you. My address is:
Mike Steele
1512 No. Juniper St.
Tacoma Washington.
98406
See you later

Nov 10, 2008
William Maturi

Will be able to send you one of our uniform patchs as soon as my supply is replaced . Before I retired I served the citizens of my district for 26 years as a Firefighter/Medic and finally as the departments Deputy Chief. I was a police Officer prior to that so not new to public service. Stay safe please. William Maturi
3779 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro N.C 27205 USA

Nov 10, 2008
Dan

Thanks Leo! I would send you a patch, however our company doesn't have any patches that we use anymore, have been trying to make a new one but that has gone nowhere... only our district has a patch and I can see if we can get one.

Nov 11, 2008
Mike Heikes

Hi Leo,
Thanks for the welcome.
Mike Heikes
1231 Franz St Se
Lacey Wa 98503

Nov 11, 2008
George Lawrence Keithley

Thanks for sending me a message and I will send the patches from my Fire Dept. and what size shirt do you wear may I ask? Write to my e-mail at glkfloorcleaning@yahoo.com
George Keithley

Nov 11, 2008
gallego

HOLA! LEO: SOY JAVIER PERO TODOS ME DICEN "GALLEGO", SOY BOMBERO VOLUNTARIO DE LOMAS DE ZAMORA EN BUENOS AIRES Y ESTOY DESTINADO EN EL DESTACAMENTO Nº1 DE BANFIELD. ENTIENDO QUE SOS PARAMEDICO DE AUSTRALIA. ESTOY AGRADECIDO DE QUE ALLAS ACCEDIDO A MANTENER COMUNICACION. ME GUSTARIA QUE ME CUENTES COMO SE MANEJAN USTEDES EN AUSTRALIA Y QUE ME CUENTES ACERCA DE TU MARAVILLOSO PAIS.NOS VEMOS AMIGO.

Nov 12, 2008
JB Wallace

A patch would be nice. The address is:

Sgt. JB Wallace
1923 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington DC 20001

Let me know where to send yours.

Nov 13, 2008
Rachel T. Corey

Hello over there! Would love to trade patches with you.
Just send me your address via email and I will give you mine in return.
Be safe out there!

Nov 13, 2008
Rachel T. Corey

Might be able to round up a shirt too if you don't mind giving me your size. ;)

Nov 13, 2008
gallego

HOLA LEO: I'm glad to have you as a friend I hope that we communicate frequently and can enterame hacerca of your activities and we know Australia vemos.chau. Galician

Nov 14, 2008
Bryan Busby

Thank YOU Leo that would be great! Our Department just last night approved Class "A" and "B" dresscode So I am in the prosess of getting our department ALL the patches and emblems and would be glad to trade with you. Thanks again. Chief Bryan Busby

Nov 14, 2008
Bryan Busby

OH yea! my address is 167 pr 1413,morgan,texas,76671
Thanks Again chief Busby

Nov 14, 2008
GHOSTMAN

THANKS FOR YOUR PATCH I RECEIVED, YOURS IS IN THE MAIL! G

Nov 15, 2008
Daniel

Thanks for the offer! I hear it's a lot harder to get a Paramedic license down there than it is in the USA. I'm sure I'll have some good questions for you soon. I'll see about the patches as soon as I can. By the way, the University of Alabama (my team), just beat Mississippi State to keep us number 1 and undefeated! ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!

Nov 15, 2008
Sakkie

Hallo Leo. Thank you for the patch it arrived here in South Africa in this week. Will send you one of mine and one of my wife soon.

Nov 16, 2008
Clint

Thank you Leo for the warm welcome and the offer to exchange patches -- I'd certainly be more than happy to trade with ya if I had something to trade. My VFD [in Montana] was too small -- we didn't have a patch and down here in California I'm currently just a "wanna-be" soon to attend a basic fire academy. Maybe someday in the not to distant future I might have something for you.

Nov 19, 2008
Tiger Schmittendorf

Hi Leo -

Although we're worlds apart, I'm sure our operations are closer than we think.

Stay safe. Train often.

Nov 19, 2008
Kenneth Clutts

I have a couple of patches from services that i work or have worked for in the state i will send you for one of yours

Nov 20, 2008
Cierra

I'm really interested in your policy and procedures as far as patient care is conserend. What drugs you are allowed to carry on the ambulances do you get to do RSI... ect... I'm very interested in the world around me! I'll try to answer any questions you have for me! I'm from Georgia USA...

Nov 20, 2008
Hugo Ferreira

hey there brother from australia thanks for your invite my e-mail is hugoferreira69@hotmail.com
im a emt in portugal too...its my work emt but sometimes i work in fire/rescue too...send me e-mail about you and your joob we can change some ideas about it!

Nov 20, 2008
Luis Garcia

hi leo

Nov 21, 2008
Michael Vito

Hello Leo, Thanks for dropping by. Great pictures. I wish I could watch a rescue demonstrations live in you area. from the Philippines TCSS, mike

Nov 22, 2008
Luis Coelho

I Leo, i'll be pleased to trade with you, i'll send you my FD patch. Regards

Nov 22, 2008
philipp

thanks for your mail leo! my english is not very good, sorry! but i understand your comment! my email is jacuzziphil@web.de
greetings out Germany

Nov 23, 2008
Ale

hey leo, thank you for the binevenida, and I hope that we can contact to exchange ideas and comments, I hope that this all too well from there, apart from being a firefighter'm sevicio driver of a medical emergency, and today we let our guard who are 24 hours. ok we are writing then read up .-

Nov 23, 2008
Jamiemedic

hey leo Here is my zip code 22727 or you can email me at Jamiemedic@aol.com

Nov 23, 2008
Tim

Gday Leo, :)

sent out your patch on Friday Leo..not sure how long it takes to get to Australia...but its away!! Enjoy! Stay safe!!

Tim

Nov 23, 2008
Tim

Holy cow Leo! I have finally had some time to look over your page and I must say that you guys "down under" have some pretty spectacular rescues and crashes. Most of my career in the City of St.Louis had some good ones over the years but never seen one like the one you have posted!! I am really surprised no one was killed. We get some crashes here sometimes as this is a hot tourist spot (Lake of the Ozarks) but they are relatively rare of the magnitude you have on your page. Did the bus driver fall asleep at the wheel?

Nov 23, 2008
Jonathan Robbins

hey Mr Cartwright. Job searching isnt going the best. No one is really testing right now. but im staying postive about things and im trying to find an EMT job to get me started. i got all kinds of certs now i just got to put them to use. yall need anyone where your at :) just joking. i cant wait to join the fire fighting family! If you have any tips for job hunting i would much appreciate it. well have a great day!

Nov 23, 2008
Matthew Murphy

hey Leo i guess you didn't get my last comment i am sorry that my email didn't work. But if you send me yours i will be more than happy to try and contact you

Nov 24, 2008
Pierre Halleux

Hi Leo, nice to know you. I send you my e-mail adress. Then, send me your adress and I send you a patche.

Be safe

Nov 24, 2008
Horst

Not working as fire fighter right now but lookin for another department. Would like to exchange patches later when I have some. Tc, Horst

Nov 24, 2008
Gordon Center

Leo,

Greetings from the great state of Texas. Thank you for the nice note. I have fond memories as a boy, of watching Ric Charlesworth suture a fellow hockey teammate during the '84 games. Any nation that refuses to take the injury substitution seems like my type of place. Email to follow, and I'd love to send you some departmental patches. All my best, and everyone comes home.

Nov 25, 2008
Rachel T. Corey

Hey Leo! Got the patch, thanks!Have you gotten the one I sent yet?
Be safe out there.

Nov 28, 2008
Bryan Jackson

Hey Leo. One of the guys here loves to swap patches. I will have him get one out to you. Good to talk to you.

Dec 1, 2008
Kevin Dean

Hello, If your interested, we could exchange some patches...I am an avid collector. let me know. My e-mail is med1862@mchsi.com
I collect EMS. Fire and Police patches/badges.

Dec 4, 2008
Jose

hey leo i got your patch an thank you. i'll be sending our dept's patch in the mail in the next couple of days

Dec 4, 2008
Tim

Leo,

Did you get your patch yet? I never heard anything back...let me know either way..I sent it off a few weeks ago..proklly close to 3 now..

Tim

Dec 8, 2008
Bulldozer

Hey brother Happy Holidays and god bless an be safe

Dec 9, 2008
tito

I invite you to join the group Firefighters Argentinos and participate in the discussions Chau! a big hug http://www.firefighternation.com/group/tito2008

Dec 13, 2008
paul le blanc

tried to e mail you some jokes. e mail provider said your e mail was over the quota.let me know when you get the envelope.

paul

Dec 15, 2008
philipp

hi Leo! thanks for the pages! now, i can send my pages from Dorsten and Bottrop, because my school is finished! i send the letter to the adress from your card!? thank you and nice christmas days for you and your family!!!

Dec 16, 2008
Dennis Brown

Hi Leo just seeing how things are with you i see you updated your page real nice take care ttyrs
Dennis

Dec 17, 2008
paul le blanc

Leo, Wow is the mail service fast from down under. It only took 5 day's to get here.We don't get that fast service for inter city mail.

Thanks

Paul p.s. let me know when my envelope arrives?

Dec 18, 2008
KRISTEN

hello my friend
i wanted to ask u if i could add u
also if u know were to get some patches
to trade well i hope that we can talk some time take care and be safe and have a happy xmas

Dec 23, 2008
Davi de Souza

The patches already had arrived very good, are the search of a special patch in sending you as soon as to obtain with certainty receive you them. Happy Christmas
Sorry my english text.
Davi de Souza

Dec 23, 2008
Matt

Hey Leo,
Thanks for the welcome and wishes for my son. Its wild how different your vehicles are than ours here. Very neat to see new things. As long as they all do their job thats what counts.

Dec 26, 2008
Matthew

Hey man thanks for the add/comment! your profile is very interesting as well...Australia, wow haha. It's summer there now isn't it?

Dec 28, 2008
Jose Roberto Q Tolentino Jr, EMT

Hi Leo,
Thanks for adding me as a friend. Its really nice to link with a brother in the service of saving lives.
Keep up the good work. God bless!!!
Joebert

Dec 30, 2008
Dennis Brown

Hello leo hope you had a god holiday and a good new year hows the patch trading going for you good i hope be safe ttyrs
Dennis

Dec 30, 2008

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