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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

Wayne Williams

Hey Leo, Thanks for the welcome. I will hook you up with a patch from our Dept. and will get it out to you soon. Thanks again and be safe, Wayne

Jun 18, 2010
WILFREDO D. ANLOCOTAN

Hello Leo..Thank you for the warm welcome....I will surely hook you up with my department patch with a matching cap...Im in Saudi Arabia now and working as fireman in the kings palace.

Jun 18, 2010
Charlie Harrison

Hi Leo. Thanks for the note. Have you ever gone to 911patches.com.. I collect patches (Fire and EMS Only) and they have a large collection.. So does eagleemblem.com, they carry a ton of FDNY. Stay safe and keep your eyes open.... PS.: check out ridebackwards.com for great workout gear. I am a powerlifter and strongman competitor and they have the best gear...

Hoss (Nickname)

Jun 18, 2010
Roy firehelmets

Hello Leo, tahnks for your comment and welcome. Can you help me to get some Australian fire/ paramedic helmets? So we can trade to a lot of dutch patches. I have fire, police and paramedic patches to trade.

Greetings Roy

Jun 19, 2010
Brad Duncan

Hello Leo how are you doing i will send you a old patche take care

Jun 20, 2010
Brad Duncan

28 Ravine cr Townsend Ont Canada N0a1so ples send me one of yours thanks brad

Jun 20, 2010
carlos zeballos

hola leo soy bombero de argentina que bueno fue encontrarte ya que yo vivi dos años en victoria que lindas fotos un abrazo carlos

Jun 20, 2010
Arron

Hello Leo

Mate I added some photos of patches I have collected onto my profile. Dont know if you would be interested in looking, Just know your a keen collector as well. Have you had a chance to post the patch to me?

Thanks
Arron

Jun 21, 2010
Charlie Harrison

Hi Leo thanks pal for the reply. Keep in touch.

Jun 21, 2010
Robert Cormier

Hi Leo,Thanks for the reception.I would be glad to send you my department patch.
Stay safe!
Robert

Jun 22, 2010
Antonio Alfaro Figueroa

Thank´s Leo , i will senyou a patch from Cruz Roja Mexicana, is my organization, i do volunnteer work training people for the rescue teem.

Jun 23, 2010
alin dobre

I am glad to meet you. are drill NCOs School of Fire and Civil Protection "Paul Zaganescu" Boldesti-Romania. It is an initiation school in teaching young fireman, school lasts two years. To send your school visit the website: www.scoaladepompieri.ro
The first occasion and one to send you photos.
Sincerely,
Alin DOBRE,
NCOs School of Fire and Civil Protection,
Boldesti Romania,
alindobre@hotmail.com

Jul 1, 2010
Bryce Wilkens

Found a patch will send it next week after holiday weekend

Jul 2, 2010
Willie Weiss

Hi yourself and thanks so much for the welcome.I thought I might get to know a few folks and also hope to gather some helpful "fun" things to do for my training classes. I'm from Alabama the home of the Crimson Tide. I'm a Yankees fan. Not much on football.Around here those are almost fighting words. I, too collect patches shirts whatever from other depts. Maybe we can swap. Anyway, thanks for the welcome. Drop a line anytime. Check as often as I can on my mail.

Jul 2, 2010
Kenneth Young

Thanks for your welcome note. I am with a volunteer dept so we don't have any patches yet. We are working on creating one though.

Jul 3, 2010
Mauricio Martin Hartwig

hi thanks for your welcome!, i will let you kwon when i can send you the patch from my Fire Station.

be safe

MMH

Jul 4, 2010
Robert M Brophy

Thanks Leo, i spent 17 &1/2 half years as a Firefighter @ Manchester Airport Fire Dept. and a Vol for my small home town F.D. i startede getting sick about 1997 and no one ( Doctors ) could figgure out why, i have uncontroled vomiting and wicked pain and wicked gut wrenching neausea,i became a Ordained Minister in 1999 to assist my brother firefighters with thing they have done and seen while in the Fire Service,performed 3 or 4 of their wedding for them, i reached the Rank of Capt ( Shift Commander ). and the illness just kept getting worse getting sicker and sicker,9/11 i was recalled to the fire station and spent about a week there on duty,Then i was told on the 16 of Sept to report the the FD Doctor's Office. There i was told i was being let go becouse of uncontroled vomiting and i was classified as a danger to other firefighters safety,The Doc was right to do this,i had kept putting it off,i knew it was comming,i just didn't have the heart to quit the Fire Service my self,it was in 2006 the the (VA) Veterans Affears Hosp said the caused was exposure to a chemical or Chemical's unkown that was causing the illness and put me at Permenate and totally Disabled Veteran status, i am still the Chapaplain for my Vol FD at home,But i won't leave the house much asa this illness is really embaressing to me and i never know when its going to hit,always at least twice aweek and i vomit and in pain for each time it hit, i have been out of the loop for FD patches for about 6 yrs but i will try to get afew of my old FD patches and there new one
Have a good one
Bob

Jul 5, 2010
Brad Duncan

Leo hello i sent to you a patche last week let me no when you get it thanks take care brad

Jul 5, 2010
Troy Colvin

Hello Leo, I will get you a Service patch from my fire department. I also collect Fire Service and Medical collectibles. I would like one of yours also if you can come up with an extra. Thanks for the visit. I will get the patch in the mail as soon as I get one later this week. I look forward to talking again. My address is
Troy Colvin
201 E. Essex ST.
Glasford, Illinois 61533

Jul 6, 2010
Arron

Hey Leo

Mate I got a few patches the other day that you might be interested in.
Let me know if your still interested in trading and I will send some pics

You wouldnt by any chance have sent the other patches yet?
Arron

Jul 6, 2010
Allen Morris

Thank you i will look and see if i have an extra dept. patch and send it to you.

Jul 6, 2010
Paul Newton

Leo,

Thanks for the welcome. I'll see what I can do about a patch.

Jul 6, 2010
William Bills

Hello Leo,
Thanks for the welcome. I'm still trying to figure out how to use the website so bear with me...Hope all is well on the otherside of the world! :)

Jul 6, 2010
yadira diaz de leon

hello, thanks for the welcome....
and of equal way rely on with me that thank you I will add my friends to you that you should not doubt it.!!

Jul 7, 2010
Jana Rhea Powell

I would be happy to send you a patch from little old Alaska.

Jul 7, 2010
Marco Wenninger

Hi Leo
Thanks for the welcome
I'm happy to be in touch with people first responders in different countries, unfortunately do not speak English but use a translator. The languages that I use are Spanish and German
I am also interested in the patches from different fire stations. I will find a way to send a patch of my station here in Paraguay. I hope you like it for your collection.
I hope to reconnect soon.
Thank you very much.
Marco.

Jul 7, 2010
Robert Salvaggio

hello Leo Thank you for the welcome message. I did send you a friend request and yes I do collect and I will send you out our two patches. Thank you and be safe
Bob

Jul 7, 2010
Bekks

Hey Leo, thanks for the welcome message! My department is volunteer and the closest thing we have to a patch is a silk-screened t-shirt. I don't even know if the CHIEF has a dress uniform let alone a patch! We have two stations housing a total of 5 trucks (1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 "snuffer" or mini-pumper, a 4x4 pickup with wildfire equipment, and an equipment truck (mobile bunker-gear storage so if you miss the trucks, go to the scene and your gear will be waiting there for you). I'll add you as a friend though!

Jul 7, 2010
Mervyn Edward Keown

Thanks, I will send ASAP

Jul 9, 2010
Katie Witters

Thanks I am gonna see what I can do for ya! Glad to meet ya!

Jul 10, 2010
Michele L Julum

As soon as I get my gear I will see if I can get an extra patch!

Jul 12, 2010
Matt Tipper

Leo,
Patches from NT are in the post, straight off the shirt, hope they are in good enough condition, if not let me know.

Jul 14, 2010
Márcio Teixeira

tks for the message

Jul 15, 2010
Marco Wenninger

Hi leo!
How are you? How is life as a firefighter in your area? I am interested in how it is sabner academies or ingresao requirements for the ranks of responders or firefighters. I hear much of it should be a person who is recidente in the country. Just so they can devote their lives to it.
Good luck with your search for patches, I could not even scan the my station.

Jul 15, 2010
Otakar Lukac

Thanks Leo, we do have in my fire station the largest Fire Patch collection in the country, from all over the world, feel free to send us yours also to:
Comandante Otakar Lukac
Cia. Bomberos Salvadora Lima 10
Jr. Belen 1027
Lima 1
PeruThanks and best regards
Otakar

Jul 17, 2010
carlitos

hi Leo!!! well, thanks for your words of welcome pal... and regarding to your request for patches, let me tell you that I've been training in mountain rescue at Italy and France last year, and have patches from them That I'm gonna try to send you, and of course, my own unit's patch!!
Look forward of being able to visit Australia someday.... and let's share some beers and a lot of stories!!

Jul 21, 2010
Ashley

Hello Leo, would you be interested in trading patches...I'm from North Carolina..USA...

Jul 26, 2010
Arron

Hey Leo

Dont mean to be a pest, have you sent that patch yet. Just havent heard from you in a while.
Hope all is good mate,
Arron

Jul 27, 2010
Arron

Hey Leo,
Whats going on mate, I havent heard from you for ages. Its now been two and a half months since I sent you those patches and now your not getting back to me???
Come on mate, be fair about it - I have given you the benefit of the doubt until now.
Arron

Aug 12, 2010
Ashley

Hey Leo,

That's excellent! I am slightly busy this upcoming week between class and duty, However, I will get the patch out to you as soon as possible!!!

Cheers!

Aug 13, 2010
RON aka "LUCKY"

what’s the deal here, summers almost over ! ! ,, I sent you my stuff months ago and haven't received the 1 (ONE) thing I asked for and you said you were gonna send in return ,,,, Am I getting stiffed or are your really just a slack-ass ? ? You’ve put a sad twist on a time honored firefighter hobby, trading patches ,,,, I will never with anyone on this site again ,,,, If you don’t want or appreciate what I sent, feel free to return them ,,,,

Aug 15, 2010
Arron

Same goes Leo, Looks like im not the only one who has been getting stuffed around. If you didnt want the one I sent you, then send it back. Just so you know Im going to add a few comments to the patch trading groups to warn other traders about this, its not fair, its stealing. If there is a legitimate reason you havent kept to your end ot the trade all you had to do was let us know. The fact that you dont get back to us and when you do you make empty promises, thats what looks bad. Come on, keep to your end ot the trade.

Aug 15, 2010
Edmund Ford Power 3rd

I don't know anything about Australia, but does it get snow or aything? and how is it over there?

Aug 23, 2010
Kent

Leo,

Are you interested in swapping patches. Email me at kentheg@yahoo.com if you want to trade.

Stay safe,

Kent

Sep 12, 2010
Andrew(Skinny) Lingard

Leo, our Donkey is still AWOL, have you seen him about Vic or walkabout creek

Sep 27, 2010
Elijah Davis

did you get the patch I sent

Dec 2, 2010
john holtan

Thanks Leo for the message. I don't have any patches at this time. I am just getting my new business up and running. I am the inventor of the Gas Monitor Simulator. If you have an iPod touch iPhone or iPad please download the app at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gas-monitor-simulator/id362628351?mt=8 and I will then unlock your device so you can try it out.

Hope to talk to you soon.
John Holtan
Be safe!

Dec 10, 2010
Izzy ( J. Bade)

hey Leo, its been ages since I've been on here. too much going on around here. was thinking about you while seeing all the devastation down there. how ya been? hopefully it hasn't been too bad for ya. be safe out there, and when you get a moment, drop a note.

Jan 14, 2011
johnnie w. specht

hey leo i dont have any emergency patches yet.

Jan 19, 2011
Rosemary Nord

Hi, I have to confess, that I haven't really been involved with this FFN website at all since I joined almost a year ago! I just signed in again, and see that I told you that I would send you some patches. WOW! some 'friend' I am. I haven't shown to be very good at follow through here! I am actually about to have surgery on my right big toe. I am off duty now and will be back to duty after the surgery and some physical therapy! Stay safe!

Mar 23, 2011

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