EXCEED OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 oct_dec_2017_emag | Page 31

MIDWEEK MEANDER # 20 Monday October 23rd

Participant Name

Member Number

Vehicle Details

After an absence of a few years the ever popular Midweek Meander made a return with a great response and a number of new participants .

We met at the Ambulance Historic Society of Victoria Museum in Bayswater where first priority was a cuppa and home made scones . What a treat . This museum is run by volunteers , all retired Ambulance officers , and their families . Chas Martin was our host and he and his fellow Officers , John and Ian , gave us the history of how the Museum began in about 2000 in Thomastown and how it has grown since then .

Ambulances are added to the collection as they “ retire ” or are donated by people who own the vehicle and want to see it on display . In total they have about 20 vehicles on display as well as lots of associated gear such as stretchers , emergency equipment and training equipment .

A number of their vehicles are sometimes seen on period television shows as well as appearing at public events and car rallies . One vehicle returned while we were there after spending the weekend at the Holden rally in Gippsland . They even have a couple of war vintage vehicles fully restored and operational so for the mechanically minded it was great to see the old engines and the basic interior layouts .

The presenters took us through a number of possible scenarios that an Ambulance Officer might face as well as the training that they undertake . Of particular interest was the downward trend in loss of life or serious disability with the introduction or more MICA Units . The first of these was introduced in about 1971 in the City while the second was introduced on the Mornington Peninsula 12 months later after the much reported death of famous footballer John Coleman . Since then the number of MICA units has grown quickly and continues to do so .

We learnt of the dangers that Ambulance Officers face in carrying out their job and the increase in incidents coinciding with the increase in female officers . Not a nice statistic for the community but a fact of life for these people .

28 © Vol 35 No . 6 - Oct / Nov 2017