Management Team

Experience:

I have accrued nearly 5000 flying hours over a 33-year career in the Australian Defence Force as an Army Aviation Pilot. I flew Bell 206 Kiowa, UH1H Iroquois and UH60 Blackhawk helicopters and Nomad and Porter fixed-wing aircraft. Prior to my retirement from the ADF, I commanded the Aviation Support Group and then led the establishment of and commanded the 16th Brigade (Aviation). While in the ADF, I was awarded an Air Force Cross for a rescue near Springsure QLD and was made a Member of the Order of Australia.

Highlights:

Highlights of working with AGL Action Rescue Helicopter have been the involvement with a great number of important changes including the construction of our new hangar, introduction of IFR operations and the expansion of the Service with the hiring of additional crews and planning the procurement of another twin engine helicopter. Having the opportunity to work with a dedicated and professional team which includes Queensland Ambulance Service Intensive Care Paramedics and the many community supporters of the Service has also been a highlight.

Hobbies and interests:

Sports such as golf, fishing and soccer, as well as theatre and family.

Experience:

I started pilot training when I was 17, and have been flying ever since. In the last 20+ years I have flown helicopters all over Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the UK and USA. I have flown rescue missions at various times over that period, and I have been flying emergency medical missions since 2003.

Highlights:

Rather than doing a lot of flying, my job is about making sure that our teams of pilots, crewmen and intensive-care paramedics are able to get ‘out there’ and concentrate on what they do best. So I try to make sure we have all the training, equipment, procedures and systems in place to make things go smoothly, and provide some leadership to help sort things out when they don’t go smoothly. It’s a highlight for me to know that our crews are busy on a task, and that they are being well supported by the rest of the AGL Action Rescue team back at our bases.

Most memorable mission:

There have been many, but one I particularly remember is responding to the crash of a tourist bus on a steep mountain road. 19 people had been injured, and the accident scene was some distance away from a major centre, so road ambulance support was limited. Our team was first on scene, and got straight to work. Our medical guys set up triage and managed the injured, and the aircrew guys worked under their direction. We also organised helicopter evacuations, which involved a total of six rescue helicopters by the time the job was completed. It was memorable because a large number of medical and rescue specialists converged quickly on the scene and it all just ‘clicked’ together.

Hobbies and interests:

I’d like to think there are plenty, but mostly I just try to relax with my family.

Experience:

I have spent 13 years as an Air crewman in defence, mainly on S70A9 Blackhawk taking part in operations all over Australia and in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya and Timor.

Highlights:

One of the major highlights of this job is the sense of achievement you get when you work together as a team to accomplish a positive outcome for a member of the public who has been involved in an accident.

Most memorable mission:

My most memorable mission would be the winch retrieval of an elderly woman who had fallen down a waterfall in the coast hinterland and had injured her leg. The ambulance officers were trekking into the scene but weren't going to arrive and be able to carry the woman out before last light. We searched the creek line until we found her, then winched in the doctor and rescue crew officer for the retrieval. The lady was transported to hospital and made a full recovery.

Hobbies and interests:

Diving, golf and learning to surf.

Experience:

After 12 years in the finance industry, I was lucky enough to get offered a role with News Interactive, the new media arm of news Ltd, in its start up phase in 2000. From Customer Service manager, I moved into sales becoming the new media sales executive for Queensland. 6 years ago i was offered a position working in the employment branding and events becoming Queensland state manager before embarking on a wonderful journey with AGL Action Rescue Helicopter.

Highlight:

The biggest thrills in this position is when a patient who was rescued by the team, writes back or visits us at base. We rarely get to see the outcomes of patients we;ve transported, so any response from a patient is fantastic and reminds you why the job is so important.

Experience and qualifications:

Tertiary qualifications in administrative procedures, basic accounting/book-keeping and creative writing as well as SRN

Experience:

My background was a mixture of nursing, raising children and studying before joining the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter Base thirteen years ago. My tasks range from repetitive and routine to exciting and rewarding. I have learned to be flexible with the day's plans as no day is predictable.

Highlights:

Seeing AGL Action Rescue grow in size and capability and knowing that the organisation will continue to evolve and improve in the future.

Another highlight was moving from the cramped old hangar to our spacious new facility in August 2006.

Organising parties for sick children, helping them climb excitedly into helicopters for flights, hearing their laughter throughout the day, waving goodbye to exhausted youngsters and then flopping down with the rest of the day's volunteers for a cold drink.

Hobbies and interests:

Keeping reasonably fit, walking, Toastmasters, Su Doku, movies, theatre, opera.