By Parker McKenzie
On Saturday 25 June, Ambulance Victoria farewelled and celebrated the life of Chas Martin OAM, in honour of his long service and impact on the organisation.
Mr Martin, born on 28 March 1938 in Hamilton, was a part of Ambulance Victoria for 60 years after joining in 1962 as an ambulance officer. He served the community of the eastern suburbs of Melbourne within the Ringwood and Ferntree Gully branches before transferring into the communications division, where he worked for 20 years.
Finally, he moved to the non-emergency ambulance transport at Lilydale, where he remained until he retired in 2003 after 41 years of service with Ambulance Victoria.
Ambulance Victoria Operation Fleet and Equipment manager Liz Punton said people saw Mr Martin as a leader.
“He was able to achieve what he did with the support of his wife Marg,” she said.
“He was dedicated to what he did. He loved it and he was a very hard worker.”
Ambulance Victoria extended condolences to Mr Martin’s wife Marg, son Brian, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for their loss.
Retirement wasn’t the end of his service with Ambulance Victoria, with Mr Martin devoting his time to the newly formed Retired Ambulance Association of Victoria as its president. He also assumed the role of welfare officer for retired officers and their families, offering them support and compassion.
Mr Martin established the Ambulance Museum at 55 Barry Street, Bayswater and was its honorary curator and manager from 2005 until his passing on 11 June 2022. The museum has been renamed the Ambulance Victoria Chas Martin O.A.M Museum in his honour.
At the museum, Mr Martin obtained and oversaw the restoration of a fleet of 24 vintage ambulances to display alongside memorabilia and history from the branches throughout Victoria. Many of the vintage ambulances were on display during the cortege at his farewell. He also founded the Ambulance Historical Society in 1986.
Ms Punton said she was fortunate to work for Mr Martin in the museum team.
“It will be a big loss to the team at the museum because people loved to work with him, but they like to work for him as well,” she said.
“I gravitated towards him, he just got people on board. He could always make you laugh.”
