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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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Brendaliz Del Valle

Thanks for the comment. I sent you an email and have sent you a pactch.

Feb 19, 2009
Randy Bawks

hey leo thanks for the comment. i will try to get you a patch, we dont have any and i dont believe that we ever have,but i will work on it.

Feb 19, 2009
HERNAN GRANIEL DUARTE

amigo,mi correo electronico es firehernan@hotmail.com

Feb 20, 2009
Josh

Hey. Id definately like to exchange patches. When I get back to the states Ill send it out. About another month. I may be able to send some military patches too if you like. Take care.

Feb 21, 2009
Josh

Yeah im still in Iraq for a little while longer. Almost done here. I saw one Australian Marine here a while back. Take care

Feb 22, 2009
Russ Griffith

Sounds good, I'll send one from my current department and one from my former dept. where I was Asst. Chief.

Feb 22, 2009
Mary Beth Campbell

That would be great. I am starting a collection myself, but only have a few from the states. I will get a patch out in the mail to you as soon as possible.
Thanks!!! Mary Beth

Feb 23, 2009
Tim Wolverton

I will send a patch out to you shortly, on the package will be the return address for the Fire Dept.

Feb 23, 2009
Lt. Dan

Thanks for the welcome, I will check on some patches

Feb 23, 2009
Jeff Hodge

Nice to meet you. My wife started collecting patches for me also. She has aquired some from different countries and mainly she looks for ones that has the number 13 on them. 13 is my number on the department. Many people view that number as bad luck but it is our lucky number. Just recently my wife designed the new patch for our department. The one you see on my site. I will try and get you a patch from the office and will contact you as soon as I get one so we can exchange. Hope to talk to you soon.
Jeff

Feb 23, 2009
jonthan edwards

hey leo i was reading the other day about firefighting over seas and wuondered if Australia had any type of private sectors for people to come and help fight fires there

Feb 23, 2009
Michael

Sounds great I'll try to get you one as soon as possible.

Feb 23, 2009
Rodger Ozburn

Leo - I'll try to send you a patch very soon, and the package will have a return address. Very interesting to read your information, and I applaud everyone over there when faced with the recent devastating wildfires. Keep up the great work!

Feb 23, 2009
Ron Becker

thanks leo .
Sounds good, I'll send one from my current department by thye end of the week , i also have been collecting patches for some time .

Feb 24, 2009
Karen Burton

Thanks Leo for the hope of me getting better. I really do want to run again someday. My cheif is kind of a male choeveniest (spelling) pig. He does not think women should be firefighters or medics. Basically, he thinks women should be at home takeing care of the men and children. Well, no kids living with me, and hubby takes care of me. Of course that is since I have been like this. But before when I worked, there was no keeping me down. I would fight a fire for 3 days straight , then home for a shower, some food, then off to my medic job for my 3 days on 4 days off. On my days off I volunteered at the fire station and ran days and nights for fire and EMS. What a life that was and I surely do miss that life. Now I sit at home and if I go shopping and will be out for any length of time I have to be in my purple wheelchair. So maybe they can make this special thing for me that hooks me tight to my wheelchair, then add hose, hook it a special way to me and just add water, I sure as heck can put out a fire on the outside of a structure. :) I have to get somemore patches to trade with u, so when I get them, I will send them in the mail to u, and I will write to u and give u my addy for u to send me mine back from assi. What possition are u in ur fire dept? do u also run EMS? I'll chat with u later.....Karen

Feb 25, 2009
KEVIN WILLIS

thank you for welcoming me, im looking forward to becoming friends with many on this sight

Feb 25, 2009
Russ Griffith

Leo, disregard that last, I found your address, i was just looking in the wrong spot.
Russ

Feb 26, 2009
Stephen Kisak

hey hows it going would you like to trade patches

Feb 27, 2009
Melinda Horn

Hello Leo. I collect patches also. I'm in Texas on a fire detail right. I may be here for a month, so it may take a while for me to send you a patch. I'll also add a pic when I get home to my computer. I'm on a Forest Service computer right now.
Have a great week!
MEL

Mar 2, 2009
Terence Chase

Thanks for the welcome. When I come across patches, I will try to make arrangements to grab some for you. Enjoy!

Mar 2, 2009
yusmizan bin yusof

hi leo, thanks for invite me,i hope we can shere our exprince in job.tq

Mar 2, 2009
Septiman

Hello Leo, You are very polite in you commnets. Thank's for you invitation and i hope we can share information, experience and patches!

Take care!

Mar 2, 2009
Stephen Kisak

stephen kisak
4409 ophelia st
newton falls ohio usa

thanks leo send me yours please

Mar 3, 2009
Rick Pennock

hi leo thanks for the comment. Been busy on this end we lost a firefighter in the line of duty here. I was wondering if I sent you the address could your station send a condolence card. The first firefighter to get to our fallen brother was his wife. Who was responding in the second unit.

Mar 3, 2009
Jeremy Smulski

hey leo
thanks for the comment i may be able to help you with the patches I'll drop you an email if i get some!!! cheers

Mar 4, 2009
Ron Butler

Thanks for the welcome Leo. I'll round up some patches and stickers and shoot them your way.

Mar 4, 2009
JIM LAMB

Thanks for the invite to be freinds, i feel for you all down under, what with all your wildfires. Stay tough and proud, you all deserve a lot of repect.

Mar 5, 2009
Cody Baker

Hey Leo, Its Cody... Ummm can you send me a picture or two of the Badges you have I am looking for and EMS badge but all I have is a Patch of the EMT Star of Life that is all I have...

Mar 5, 2009
WRFD 784

Hey Leo I was wondering if you like to trade patches. I am into collecting different patches and would like to get as many as possible for my collection. Let me know. Jeremy

Mar 6, 2009
mariana hernandez

Hello, and thanks. I hope that you can translator my letter because im dont speak and write the inglish very well. Por eso mejor usted practica español y yo ingles para traducir, estoru muy contenta de haberme integrado a esta gran familia. Me gustaria si no es mucha molestia me enviara fotos de sus PPE. y de sus uniformes de estacion ya que deseo empezar una coleccion de estos. Muchas gracias y un saludo desde Jalisco, Mexico.

Mar 7, 2009
sean erskine

so are you still fighting the wild fires there or have things calm down for now

Mar 8, 2009
Geoff

G'day Leo

Will keep an eye out for any patches that swing my way and forward on down to you. Dont work too hard mate!!

Geoffro

Mar 9, 2009
Brian Schwaben

Hey thanks for your greeting. Sorry, the only patches i have came from poker runs. Perimedic! Good job. I'm studying for EMT basic and it is alot of info to learn. I'll add you to my freinds list. Nice to know you can have friends internationally. P.S. Have a great day and I'll keep an eye out for any patches that i could send your way.

Mar 9, 2009
John J Finn

Great to here from a brother in another country I spen 6 years in the United Kingdom as a USAF Firefighter but my dream is to dive the great barrier reef and spend new years eve in Sydney Maybe some day Have a great daay mate and we will keep in touch

Mar 9, 2009
adam prime

hey Leo hows it going? well ill see wat i can do for a patch of our dept k. Im the LT so ill see wat i can do. ttyl u r now a friend

Mar 9, 2009
Marcus Ronald Brown

Hi my friends call me Brownie or Marc , nice to take to a fellow fire fighter , so do you guys have a lot of calls , we are in the country and don't have but about 80 calls per year. Hope you have a nice day . Nice talking to you .

Brownie

Mar 10, 2009
Marcus Ronald Brown

So Leo do you know Clinton Anderson from Down Under Horsemanship . He is a good horse trainer , I really enjoy watching him on the TV .

Mar 10, 2009
Chief Stan Tarnowski

Hi Leo..nice to meet you. I will keep you in mind with the patches etc. Thanks for saying hello and will be in touch. Thanks. Stan

Mar 10, 2009
Sierra Rogers

Hi Leo. As far as the patches go my fiance and I both collect patches from around the world. If you have some from your area to send we prolly have some from around here to send. Nice to meet you and keep in touch.

Sierra

Mar 10, 2009
Jeff Saylors

Leo,
Thanks for the hello and I will keep my eye's open for new patches but I think I may be able to find you several from Georgia. Just let me know and i will send you what I can find but I would like to get one of yours as well if possible.
Thanks, Jeff

Mar 10, 2009
Don Dundass

Hello Leo,
I have not figured out how to get a patch out of my own department yet but I came across this on another sit I use http://www.firehall.com/exchange.php?list=patch
A lot of patches 674 so there may be a good chance that someone has sent it to you before. Most are Canadian some International

Mar 10, 2009
Aaron Smith

hi leo, thanks for the hello. ill keep on eye on any spare patches that come in.

Mar 11, 2009
Davi de Souza

I sent my patches for you, but it sends for Canada, great error mine, will send again. Sorry my friend
Davi de Souza.

Mar 11, 2009
bololo

thanks, also I am a firefighter and paramedic 17 years in this coorporacion
greetings from mexico, my email is bololo_nucita@hotmail.com

Mar 11, 2009
Bahadir Sahin

I look for people from US agencies. If I do something about Australia in the future, I will let you know.

And I dont have those badges in my computer. Once I do, I will send them to you.

Thanks

Mar 12, 2009
Phillip Leeder

Hello Leo, thanks for your welcome.I don't save any badges as such. I only have the rank markings that I have earned over the years and a few fire helmets. Regards Phillip

Mar 12, 2009
bololo

very good pictures, I am pleased that the vehicular extraction is equal anywhere in the world .. greetings from the state civil protection firefighters from Uruapan michoacan mexico,
my email is bololo_nucita@hotmail.com

Mar 12, 2009
siynel

hi leo, good to hear from you. i dont have any patch right now. ill be happy to give you one once i have mine as souvenir. thank you for welcoming me.

Mar 13, 2009
Wynand

hi leo im a Leading fireman from Potchefstroom in South Africa in the Norhwest Province i hope to meet a lot of fire fighters and paramedics I think I have some badges but ill send one for you as a souvenir. thank you agaif for welcoming me.

Mar 13, 2009
Wynand

well I see im still struggeling to invite some friends so if you want to you can invite me or you can email me directly at wynand.pretorius@rheinmetall-denelmunition.com

Mar 13, 2009

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