Emerald and District Ambulance Auxiliary president and treasurer and former Cardinia Shire Mayor Graeme Legge AM has been recognised for his dedication, inducted onto the Victorian Health Volunteer Honour Roll.
Graeme was a foundation member of the Auxiliary 41 years ago and has now spent 37 of those years as president and 31 as treasurer.
AV Auxiliaries have a proud history that dates back more than 100 years and are comprised of volunteers who play a vital role in raising funds for and advocating on behalf of their local ambulance branch.
There are 40 AV Auxiliaries across the state.
Graeme is a life-long Emerald resident and was drawn to volunteering from a young age.
When he was 15, he attempted to put out a fire that had started on his neighbour’s property, but the blaze quickly grew bigger.
“The fire brigade arrived and I was so relieved and grateful,” Graeme said.
“I looked around and thought ‘who is the fire brigade’, and there was a house painter, a nursery man, an estate agent – they were ordinary people.
“It’s about strength in numbers. I realised that with a team of people, help is effective and mutually beneficial.
“We’re a better community when we help one another.”
Graeme had joined the fire brigade himself, eventually became fire captain, and it was through this experience that he became involved in starting the local Auxiliary.
The group of community members was motivated to improve ambulance response times in Emerald and campaigned for a local ambulance branch, which was realised in 1983.
“Ash Wednesday came along and there were all sorts of emergency vehicles in Emerald, including ambulances,” Graeme said.
“After the fires, the ambulances stayed and the new Emerald branch was announced.”
The original Auxiliary had achieved its goal and soon re-formed to support the new, local ambulance service.
For almost four years, the Emerald ambulance branch was temporarily housed in the Emerald Fire Station, with Graeme himself making room and keeping a fire brigade vehicle on his own nearby property.
“The Auxiliary was keen to support improved accommodation for ambulance officers and find a location for a standalone ambulance branch,” Graeme said.
Helping establish an ambulance branch was one of Graeme’s biggest achievements in the Auxiliary, but it’s just one of many benefits the group has brought to the local community under his leadership.
Graeme and the Auxiliary have helped provide additional medical equipment for local ambulance crews, established a medical library, provided training gear, secured additional administrative tools and recreational equipment for local paramedics and AV staff, and installed a publicly accessible automated external defibrillator (AED).
Graeme’s leadership has enriched professional expertise, boosted morale and strengthened public appreciation for emergency services.
In 2022, Graeme was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to emergency response organisations, and to the community.
Graeme was inducted onto the Victorian Health Volunteer Honour Roll at the 2024 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards in Melbourne on 19 November.
“It was a delightful experience but it’s saying the work of the local Auxiliary is worthwhile and of high quality,” he said.
“Volunteer organisations are valuable and can be inspirational to others.
“When I attended my first presentation night with a fire brigade, there were some members recognised for 10 years of service and I thought, ‘wow, 10 years!’.
“Then there were some recognised for 15 or 20 years, and that was inspirational to me.”
The Victorian Health Volunteer Honour Roll celebrates volunteers with 30 or more years of service and recognises their dedication to the healthcare sector and the people of Victoria.
David Pollard, Harry Brindley ASM, Garry Larmour and Gordon Risk from the Charlton and District Ambulance Auxiliary, and Hugh Stagg from the Heyfield Ambulance Auxiliary were also inducted onto the Honour Roll.
Today is International Volunteer Day – a day where volunteers are acknowledged and the spirit of volunteerism is promoted at the local, national and international levels.
