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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:

Load Previous Comments

Justin Cook

I saw that you like to collect patches If you will send your address and counry code I will get some to from my depts. thanks for the add

Dec 30, 2008
luke

hi leo
thanks for adding me you know you and my father are very much the same in the career path he also is a paramedic in wodonga if you want to say hello he's name is scott burns based at wodonga ambulance station anyway hope to chatch up keep up the exellent work you guys do see ya luke

Dec 30, 2008
Wayne Martin Harvey

Leo, lf Brendan hasn't sent you his address to swop badges then take mine we had the same badges. W M Harvey, 48 Samuel Street, Regents Park,Johannesburg,Gauteng,South Africa,2197

Dec 31, 2008
Brett Hill

Hey Leo--Happy New Year! I have one of my 9/11 3 Heroes patches I'd be willing to trade for one of yours. Send me an email at brett@hotpluto.com with your address and I'll send it out with my address.

Thanks

Brett

Jan 3, 2009
Brett Hill

OK Leo--thanks! The patch is in the mail today!

Brett

Jan 3, 2009
David Johnston

Hi Leo... attempted to access your dept's websites, but to no avail. Please advise. I thoroughly enjoyed your slide show. I appreciate your passion for your profession! Keep on keeping on.

Jan 4, 2009
jack lambert

welcome to ffn from new brunswick canada

Jan 5, 2009
Angie

Thanks for the warm welcome! Australia, wow, I have always wanted to go there. From what I have seen, you live in a beautiful place, keep it that way and be safe.

Jan 6, 2009
Mary C.

thanks for the welcome leo, I am currently a paramedic student and looking forward to completing it so i am able to help people even more...Australia....wow Someday I might get there lol anyway greeting from Missouri, and Stay safe my friend!

Jan 6, 2009
Naty

hola leo! thank you very much for the warm welcome! I'm sure we'll be great friends, not handling too well the language and am learning to navigate this page. I hope that we keep in touch. nice to meet you! take care

Jan 7, 2009
Darcy

hey leo i will see if we have any patches from my dept out here in canada if u would like one let me know and i can see what i can do for ya k thank's talk to u soon

Jan 10, 2009
scott pires

hey there, send me your address we can swap patches.
I have a bunch, and always willing to swap.

Jan 11, 2009
Raul Mercado

Hello Leo!
I went to Australia the last year, where do you live?, I will gladly sent to you some of our ems and fire department badges.
I am in the process to migrate to your country, I expect to be around there in mid this year, It will benice to have a familiar face in the ems.
Send me your adress to post you some badges,

Best Regards,

Jan 12, 2009
Dewayne and Diana Bean

Thanks for making me feel welcome!
My friends call me D!
Stay Safe!

Jan 12, 2009
Barbara Klingensmih

Hello Leo
I'm a retired Maryland Firefighter/Paramedic, now living in Florida...but I am a current Florida Paramedic and am also National registery. My address is Barbara Klingensmith, FSFC, 11655 NW Gainesville Road, Ocala, Fl 34482. I will definately swap with you.

Jan 13, 2009
Jonathan Jones

Hi leo..I got your comment. Sorry i have been busy @ my department of as late so i havent been on so..But thanks for commenting and feel free to comment whenever you want.

Jan 13, 2009
KimJay

Thanks for the friends request. I currently dont have a extra patch but if I get my hands on one Ill send it to you. I havent gotten into the poatch exchange yet put its something I thought about starting

Jan 13, 2009
Kerry Purdy

Hi there and thanks for your warm welcome! Hows things going over there?

Jan 13, 2009
Emily

Thank you for your warm welcome. As soon as I can get my hands on patch, I'll be sure to contact you! Thanks again!

Jan 14, 2009
GFDone

Thanks Leo, You guys down under are favorities to all Americans. I've heard people say that Auzzie's are more like Americans than any other country in the world. I hope that doesn't offend you, I'm sure not! Thank you Brother!

Jan 14, 2009
Anna

hi Leo! you make a great job! and also you've got fantastic profile! stay safe! greetings from Poland :)

Jan 14, 2009
GFDone

Oh yea, I like your chose of music! Add me and I'll get back to you on the patches.

Jan 14, 2009
John Rulli Jr.

thanks for the welcome!! let me see if i can get a patch ill get back to you. STAY LOW!!

Jan 15, 2009
miles

hi will find out if we have any badges and send u 1 if we have any. i will get back to you on the status. talk to you later.

Jan 15, 2009
Ben Pearl

hey... thanks for the comment you left me... yea i would love to exchange a service badge with you... i just need 2 get mine first and c wut i can do to get an extra one for you...
i'll prob shoot u an email early february about the badge exchange...

Jan 16, 2009
Kyann Miner

Thanks for the warm welcome. I would love to exchange service badges...I will get my info to you.

Jan 16, 2009
Stephen Pekaar

Leo, I'll be glad to exchange badges with you. I'll email details soon. Thanks.

Jan 18, 2009
Sue

Leo,

Thanks! I can send you a patch from one of the departments from the Bay Area in California. I no lonher work for the Department in Alabama. I was glad to come back to CA. Email me: Dragon5059@aol.com

Sue

Jan 18, 2009
Carlos Manuel Santos

Leo,

thanks for the warm welcome. I will try to see how can i send you a badge from our fire fighter department.

Jan 18, 2009
John Stuart

We actually have a guy in our dept. that handles the patch trading (hes a patch nut..goes on vacation and the first thing he does is find the nearest firehouse to get a patch) so I will try and get you both hooked up with each other.

And photographers don't take pictures of themselves, that's just asinine! :P

Jan 19, 2009
Chris Sterling

Thanks Leo, I'll be sure to email you my home address, and I'd be glad to send you a patch from our Department. They're not too flashy, but maybe it'll be a good addition to your collection. Thanks again, Chris Sterling

Jan 19, 2009
Frank Reiter

Hello Leo,nice to meet you!Thanks for the warm welcome,I'm still trying to work this site ,it's really cool and fun to see everyone all over the world sharing and helping others and capturing a passion we all love.I added you to my friends list hope you add me too.I checked on some more patches and I will let you know when we can exchange,which is really neat.Don't send me any till I can get yours ready to fly to you.my email is reiter3@embarqmail.com (reiter3@embarqmail.com).

Jan 20, 2009
Mario

Hello Leo,
Thank you for welcoming to site. This is a great site, I am glad that I found it and hope to gather good information and pass along any that may help someone else. My wife is a paramedic and I am a firefighter. I have a day job, but I have a deep passion for being a firefighter.
I don't have any patches at the moment, but will get one to you as soon as I can. I hope to make a ton of friends on here.
Have a good day or is it good on ya, mate?

Jan 22, 2009
Bill Johnson

Hi Leo,
I'll be glad to send you patch. Great photos, hopefully I'll figure out my page and post some pics

Jan 22, 2009
Robert J.Fleming(Bobby)

thanks for visiting my site I will try and send a sholder patch as soon as possible,later for now.

Jan 23, 2009
BRENDAN WHITEHEAD

Hi LEO thanks for your mail. Myself and my wife will be moving to Aus in feb 09 . We will be moving to QLD (Brisbaine) will get my postal address to you as soon as i have one that side .Thanks for the offer hope tohear from you again soon.

Jan 24, 2009
BRENDAN WHITEHEAD

Hi again , I will hopefully get into the fire service in QLD as i hold permanent resident visa. (Thanks to my wife who hold an Au pasport) have done some searching via e-mail on the qld gov web and I should be able to join.Once again will contact you wen I get there to send you a patch.

Jan 27, 2009
Cody Boors

Looks like you have seen and done alot! Thanks a lot for the add!

Jan 28, 2009
Cody Boors

I actually do collect patches and such as well. My father is a EMT/P for over 30 years and is an Instructor for the West Peen Allegheny Health System out of Pittsburgh, Pa. We have collected many things from different helicopter services and departments where ever we could get. We will have to exchange something here real soon. Thanks a lot Cody Boors

Jan 28, 2009
Dale Lewis

Yes I would love to trade patches, but it will have to wait a little while, I'm in Germany right now.

Jan 28, 2009
paul le blanc

YO LEO, HOW BLOODY HOT IS IT DOWN YOUR WAY? IS IT TRUE THAT THE RAIL'S ARE BUCKLING? SOULDS LIKE YOU NEED MORE BEER.

Jan 29, 2009
mike 'chevynut" himmel

HEY LEO SORRY I HAVENT BEEN ON IN AWHILE I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY HERE WITH TRAINING AND WORK THANKS FOR WANTING TO TRADE PATCHES WITH ME I AM GOING TO GET A PATCH OUT TO YA IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS HERE IS MY ADDRESS THANKS AGAIN AND STAY SAFE BROTHER

MIKE HIMMEL
6200 APPLEWHITE ROAD
WENDELL N.C.
27591

Feb 3, 2009
hector

hello how it going in your area. i never been in AUSTRALIA but my son is going to get to go there whit the navy. well he in ship

Feb 5, 2009
Dina Lynn

Hey Leo. I would love to have a patch from your department. Unfortunatly I don't have anymore with mine and I moved from florida to tennessee and the fire department I am a volunteer for doesn't have any money to get any made up. My address is PO Box 209, Grimsley, TN 38565. Thank you.

Dina

Feb 7, 2009
Luis Coelho

I Leo, i'm sending you a patch today. Hope you guys the best luck on the combat of the Victorian fires, that god protect you.

Best Regards

Feb 12, 2009
GFDone

Hey Leo, You guys becareful down there! We will be praying for all of you!

Feb 15, 2009
Kevin

Hello Leo I would like very much to exchange patches. Is Victoria still ablaze? e safe.

Feb 16, 2009
Rony

Hello Leo, I would like to exchange patches, but in our service we d'ont really have patches, we use other gadgets, i'll see what i can do.
Greetz
Rony

Feb 19, 2009
dan_couch

I would aslo loveto exchange patches and badges, however at the moment, it may take me a lil bit to get up a few that you might be interested in. But I very much appreciate the offer.

Feb 19, 2009
Chris j DiMarco

Hey! hows the weather over there?

Feb 19, 2009

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