AT THE request of his late wife, one Swan Hill resident has given back to a local emergency service that gave the pair “extra years” together.
Roy Bull recently donated $15,000 to the Swan Hill Ambulance Auxiliary, following years of work from the ambulance service in providing assistance to his wife Shirley.
Mrs Bull passed away in December after suffering a heart condition since her 40s. The Swan Hill ambulance service was integral to accessing the treatment Mrs Bull required.
“They were there when we wanted them, thanks to the ambulance, I got those extra few years,” Mr Bull said.
“We never knew when we would need the ambulance. When we would call they would tear off down to the Austin [Hospital], and I would get in the car and follow.
“One time her condition got critical in the hospital at Swan Hill, and the ambulance raced her down to the Austin — it was life or death, but they brought her back to me.”
Married for more than 62 years, the couple lived at a farm at Lake Boga before moving to Swan Hill.
Mr Bull described his wife as “a real lady with a lovely nature”.
Ambulance Victoria Swan Hill Branch team manager and Swan Hill Ambulance Auxiliary secretary Geoff Astall described the donation as “very significant, and very generous”.
He said a number of items would be purchased with the donation.
Later in the year, the Swan Hill branch will receive new cardiac monitors supplied by Ambulance Victoria which they will now be able to add upgrade features to.
New mannequins to be used for training exercises will also be purchased.
“What we supply and put into the vehicles stays local,” Mr Astall said.
The Swan Hill Ambulance Auxiliary provides medical equipment and support for the local station, with vacuum mattresses for spinal immobilisation and syringe pumps to ensure accurate drug dose delivery among recent purchases.
