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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

Arron

Leo, Hello mate
Thanks for the welcome. This is all new to me, so forgive me, I will have to get used to it all. Looking forward to chatting to you.
Azz

Apr 24, 2010
Terry L Lookingbill Jr

as soon as i can get a patch ill be sending our company patch as well as our fire police patch in return would you be willing to send your company patch to me if so my address is
106 Lumber st.
Littlestown, PA
17340
United States

Apr 25, 2010
Casper Hendrik Enslin

Hi there Leo,good to hear from you from down under,i have friends that imagrated to ausiland,and 1 of them is now working at a ambulance service down there and i will contack them to find wich area they working,the 1 firefighter emt his name is Brandon Whitehead. Im a firefighter/emt intermediate i will see what i can find and send to you. kind regards Casper

Apr 26, 2010
Ken Lees

Hello Leo.
thank you.
It should be interesting to see all the different methods used from around the world.
I don't have any crests right not, we need to order some.
I do have some duplicates packed away, will take a look and see what I can send to you.

Apr 26, 2010
Scotty Hicks

Thank You for the information, I will keep you in mind and send you one of my patches when I get the chance. I'll also add you as one of my friends. I love to meet and network with other Fire/EMS Professionals around the world. We all share the same goals and values in life. I love doing what I do I'm a Firefighter for my Fire Department here in USA.

thanks again
Firefighter Hicks.

Apr 28, 2010
Arron

Leo
Mate i sent you a couple of patches the other day. let me know if they eventually get to you.

Cheers
Arron

Apr 29, 2010
Anthony "Skyre" Grisak

Thank you for the warm welcome. It's nice to be here.

Apr 30, 2010
David Poppe

Hi Leo, thanks for the warm welcome. Looking forward to get to know some colleagues from around the globe. I'll send you a patch of our FD soon. First I'll try to figure out how this forum works... See ya.

Apr 30, 2010
Will Gray

I would like to add you to be a friend. I would be happy to exchange a patch with you also. This website seems to have some very good discussions.

Apr 30, 2010
Melissa Klein

Thank you much for the welcoming.

May 2, 2010
kevin allen

this may be a stupid question.but is your fire service over there set up the same as here.example extrication teams fire teams wildland teams and so forth.as for the patch im working on it

May 4, 2010
johnnie w. specht

sure i will be your friend

May 7, 2010
RON aka "LUCKY"

hey man sent you an e-mail the other day, check it out ,,,,

your package is boxed and will be going in the mail monday AM ,,,, nice looking family, hope to have some of mine posted soon, stay safe ,,,,,

May 8, 2010
Elijah Davis

just to let you know Im going to send you patch I just have not had to time to get it to you

May 13, 2010
Adrian Rogers

so how is fire season there

May 14, 2010
johnnie w. specht

why aren't you talking to me ?

May 20, 2010
RON aka "LUCKY"

HEY MAN, GET THE PACKAGE YET ?

May 22, 2010
RON aka "LUCKY"

anyone hear back from Leo recently ? ? ,,,, I've sent him a couple e-mails and wrote here on his wall and have yet to hear back from him ,,,, sent him some momentoes from the states, but I wanna make sure he's ok ,,,,

May 23, 2010
Cody Jones

sure thing leo, let me get a patch for you and i'll send it on its way to you

May 25, 2010
Fernando Carlos Zacco

Hi Leo! Thanks for your welcome to FFN. I promise to send you some Argentinian soulder patches as soon as I can.

May 25, 2010
Ralph Webster

Thanks for the welcome Leo.

May 25, 2010
daniel enrique leyva

thanks for the welcome leo. ill see if i can send you a patch. take care buddy be safe.

May 25, 2010
Wayne Canterbury

do you trade patches? if so lets trade

May 25, 2010
Stephan Kail

Hi,
nice to meet you!
No i am collectiong helmets not patches but i ll try to get one from our department okay?

stay safe!

May 26, 2010
Krzysztof "Gruby" Czerwinski

Hello Leo,
Thank you for your comment. I will mail you just after the water will ebb here in Wroclaw ;-)
Now we have lots of work over here. Of course I want swap patches. Do you collect t-shirts?
Greetings

May 26, 2010
Robert William Gleeson

Gday Leo, sorry for the late return I'm just getting use how everything works here, I been trying to get pics saved on this site but for some reason it wouldnt work , but now I got it working finially.

I will add you, I have a few friends that collect bits & pieces, I see what I can did up for you mate Rob

May 26, 2010
Ryan Curtis

Hey Leo,

Thank you for the nice welcome! I don't have any Musquash Fire patches as of yet however I will certainly try... however I do have one I'm sure you'll enjoy and as soon as I get a few others I'll send them to you. I just finished a job working as a Term security guard at Point Lepreau (Atlantic Canada's only Nuclear Power Plant) and I have a few crests left over from there so I can send you a few of those, the reason I have finished is I have just accepted a position to head up one of their Fire brigade crews, so I'll try to get at least one of those patches too.

Thanks again for the welcome,

Ryan

May 26, 2010
Kathy Covey

Thanks for the welcome,Leo, will see what I can do for you as far as patches go.

May 26, 2010
Rosemary Nord

Hi Leo, thank you for your mesage, and I will certainly get a hold of some patches for you from the LAFD, and when I gather up a few, I will get them sent off to you. I am a pretty busy gal, so don't hesitate to remind me anytime you feel like it! as we get to know each other it will be fun for me to learn more about your Fire Dept. I'm looking forward to that! Take care! Rose

May 26, 2010
Gilles Dionne

hi Leo, thank you for your welcome! as you will see, i'am french and my english spelling is wrong.
i hope you will excuse me. usualy i do patch exchange only when i give it by hand, visiting the hall.
your hall is a litle far from Canada so i will make an exeption, (please tell nobody).
by the way the FFN site look verry freindly congratulation.

May 26, 2010
Cody Jones

your very welcome

May 27, 2010
Brett Walker

Hello Leo! This is funny, I have a relative that lives about 20 kilometres away from me and his name is Leo Cartwright. I am a Cartwright, so we may be related! haha. When you said Victoria, I thought, at first that you meant Victoria, Canada. I will send you a patch and other paraphernalia of our department! Stay in touch! I may be coming for a visit soon! My girl and I have been planning a trip back to the good country for some time now.

May 28, 2010
Brett Walker

Yes. My grandma was a Cartwright. Apparently they moved up here from the States...

May 29, 2010
Felipe V. Paculba Jr.

Hi Leo, thank you for the welcome. With regards to the things that you have requested, I can only give you the patches but for the badge, I'll just ask first a clearance to our National Headquarter whether we can make duplication for souvenir/collection purposes. But by now, I am busy enough in my schooling regarding Fire Arson Investigation and Inspection Course and the amended law of the FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES and we still have seven (7) weeks in the Regional Training School 10 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines to finish the course. Just keep in touch and email me your complete mailing address for the Patches.

May 29, 2010
Chuck Margliotti

Thanx for the welcome Leo. I'm looking forward to conversing with folks here and maybe if I'm not careful i might even learn something.

Jun 1, 2010
Robert J Meaney

Thanks for the welcome Leo. I manage very well with the parkinsons. I recently had brain surgery for parkinsons to releave tremors . It is working very well. I have a friend in Australia who has parkinsons. We talk occasionly on chat. I have a patch I will send you and feel free to send me one of yours.My address is: ROBERT J MEANEY
11 Stuart Street
Corner Brook, NL
A2H 6R8
Canada

Jun 2, 2010
Tyler Readman

hey thanks Leo for the warm welcome!!!

Jun 4, 2010
Natalie Watson

Thanks Leo,
I actually used to live in Australia, in good old Geelong!!
Miss the place, people and of course AFL, GO Cats!!

Jun 4, 2010
Matt Tipper

No worries Leo, I will see what I can muster up. Cloth badges should be no probs.

Thanks for the welcome.

Jun 8, 2010
Jon Strong

Would you be interested in trading for one of these patches?
Thanks
Jon

Jun 9, 2010
Jon Strong

That would be fine Leo.
Jon Strong
1312 Ave K
Hawarden, IA 51023

Jun 11, 2010
Austin Prince

Hi Leo, glad to meet you. I've been to Australia twice and love it. I've spent time with firefighters in Queensland(Cairns), NSW(Sydney) and Victoria (MFB). Great people! I already have a patch from each in my collection. Unfortunately we have restricted out patch trades to those who visit us in person. Still good to meet you.

Jun 11, 2010
Sean L Kavanaugh

Hi Leo, Thanks for your comment! I just sent you a friend request on here. I would have no problem sending you a patch from my department. Our patch is pretty simple but I'll be glad to send one out to you. I also collect patches as well from around the USA and other countries as well. If you have any that you have for sale or know of anybody who does please let me know! Thanks and have a great weekend! Sean.

Jun 12, 2010
Phillip Gates

Hi Leo, thanks for the welcome.

Jun 14, 2010
Caroline Brown

Hi Leo,
Thank you for your welcoming comment. I am a emergency triple zero call taker and radio dispatcher for the north coast region in QLD. I have been an auxilliary firey for 4 years, and have been a peer supporter in the Fire Care emplyee assistance program for the fire service for 3 years. I wish I discovered these paths before I did a degree (that I dont use). Sounds like you are enjoying your challenges your role provides. I look forward to chating with you and reading about some of your challenges. Cheers!

Jun 14, 2010
Paul Schoenwalder III

Thanks for the welcome to the site. Take care and stay safe.

Jun 14, 2010
Rick Percival

Thanks for welcoming me to the site Leo. As soon as I get a chance I will take a look for a patch and send it to you.
Cheers!

Jun 14, 2010
John J. Lafond Jr.

Thank you for your welcoming comment. I'll see what I can do about a patch.

Jun 14, 2010
Michael

Leo,
Thanks for the wecome, I will be traveling to Australia on 6-21-10 for a 21 day vacation. Any suggestions on what to see would be great, Will start in Sydney and I believe Melborne, ayers rock, Cairne, the great ocean road drive. I am sure there is much more but I have left it up to the wife and obviously was not paying attention again. Thanks for any help. I will bring a couple of patches and shirts on the trip.

Jun 16, 2010
Ray "$moke Eater" Hilliard

thx 4 the welcome...

Jun 18, 2010

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