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We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
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National Volunteer Week: Angus
National Volunteer Week: Angus
22 June 2020
Between volunteer firefighting and providing emergency medical care for Wellington Free Ambulance, life can get busy for Emergency Medical Technician Angus, but he says it’s all worth it.
When he’s not working on shift in the ambulance Angus is working for Waikanae’s Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Angus says working fulltime at Wellington Free means he can only respond to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) call outs on his days off.
“I'm lucky to have a brigade that supports my shift system at Wellington Free. This means I'm able to fit my volunteer commitments into my days off.”
Angus says volunteering on top of a full time job can be taxing depending on the work load, add to that an almost completed graduate internship, but still he says, it's all worth it.
He gets to experience the best of both worlds and Angus appreciates the team camaraderie that exists in both his roles.
“I really enjoy the team environment at Waikanae Fire Brigade. The people who volunteer alongside me make things so much easier. They all sacrifice a lot of their own time and energy to make sure Waikanae has the best service possible.”
Similarly his colleagues at Wellington Free and the patients he cares for make each and every day interesting and that much more enjoyable.
“We often see people in vulnerable situations and it's a privilege to be able to help them in their moment of need.”
He’s been with the brigade three years, and sees it as opportunity to give back to the community he grew up in, “what better way to give back to my community than working for Waikanae’s dedicated brigade.”
Angus says being a volunteer fire fighter means dropping everything and responding to a variety of emergencies as they happen, ranging from fires, car crashes, cardiac arrests and dealing with hazardous spills.
“The team at Waikanae fire brigade put a lot of effort in to ensuring their firefighters and equipment are in top shape and as a result are well prepared in the event of an emergency 24/7,” says Angus.
“Working in emergency services whether it be at Wellington Free or the brigade requires a fair bit of problem solving so we face a variety of challenges every day.”
Angus says he loves being able to help people in some of the most challenging moments of their lives and he gets to do this in both his roles.
Fancy joining Angus and the Event Medic team? If you’re interested in volunteering with Wellington Free Ambulance can find more on our volunteer page.
If you’re keen to help your community, we would love to hear from you.