As Toodyay Shire President, Chris played a leading role in the emergency recovery process working as the shire representative liaising with Julie Brown, the Emergency Welfare Officer with the Northam-based Department of Child Protection.

Chris worked tirelessly helping to organise food and emergency accommodation for evacuees and supported the volunteers during the long days that followed.

Those early days were crucial for providing immediate assistance.

Subsequently, the official Toodyay Bushfire Recovery Committee was set up with representatives of local and state government agencies, the Salvation Army, Red Cross and other groups.

As part of this, the Toodyay Bushfire Recovery Team was established, and co-ordinated by former shire councillor Charlie Wroth.

We owe a lot to Chris, Charlie, and all the volunteers, for the part they played in Toodyay’s ongoing recovery.

For an organisation such as St John’s which relies so heavily on volunteers, it reflects very poorly on their management that volunteers are not able to raise concerns that they face while on the job, without fear of backlash or reprisal.

I have no doubt that the bullying and intimidation directed at myself was initiated within management at the Regional Office (in Northam).

I have thoroughly enjoyed my 39 years of volunteering as an ambulance officer, serving the community of Toodyay.

I have gained so many new skills and confidence and met some truly wonderful people and made lifelong friendships.

Please continue to support the volunteers as it still is a very difficult time for them as well at the Toodyay sub-centre.

Please keep emailing those who can make a difference, as we cannot let this fade away.

Charlie is prohibited from speaking out, so please continue to be his voice.

SJAWA is deepening the chasm between paid and volunteer ambulance officers.

We cannot allow this to happen to all the wonderful volunteers from all walks of life.

“We have your back Charlie” is a phrase I have heard from Charlie’s friends and former colleagues.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing by our special man.

While I would never condone anyone swerving to miss wildlife on the road – it is possible to lose control of the car – I urge drivers to use caution when driving in areas known for wildlife activity.

If kangaroos are sighted near the road it is possible to slow down in advance.
If a kangaroo is inadvertently hit, it is preferable to pull over and check on the animal.

A ranger can attend to euthanise an injured animal so they don’t suffer unnecessarily, and pouches can be checked for joeys.

Free Beer was a totally tame and loving kangaroo,

He would have been sitting near the road calmly checking things out and his death was avoidable and unnecessary.

His sibling Bunji is so traumatised she spends her days by Debbie’s side or lying down on Free Beer’s grave.

I hope this article raises awareness about wildlife, especially with so many bush creatures lost in recent bushfires and I urge drivers to be vigilant on the road and avoid unnecessary deaths.

It is not the first time that St John administrators have sought to remove Charlie from the local sub-branch.

A year or so ago he was ‘paused’.

If you strip back this ‘weasel word’ to common language, it means he was rendered powerless to perform any volunteering duties and was sworn to secrecy.

He couldn’t even tell his wife why he wasn’t answering any ambulance call-outs.

St John officials instructed Charlie to tell everyone that he was “on holidays”.

Perhaps Charlie’s forthright comments in representing sub-branch volunteers was an affront to management who issues directives which at times are at odds with the volunteer experience.

Whatever the reason, to summarily dismiss a dedicated volunteer and have him escorted to and from the premises is disgraceful.

The remaining volunteers have been put in the invidious position of either resigning in solidarity with Charlie or continuing to volunteer for an organisation that does not respect years of selfless commitment to the local community and surrounding areas.

Along with Charlie, I have also spent more than 35 years day, night and in between supporting the Toodyay community rain, hail or shine.

This treatment of our ambulance service volunteers and the community is injustice at its worst.

Freedom of speech does not exist in the eyes of St John.

My continued love and support to Charlie and his family.

There is an alarming disparity in medical outcomes for country people compared with those living in the city.

The country volunteers of St John Ambulance play an important role in mitigating these statistics.

Because of this, supporting volunteers and appreciating their feedback should be a priority.

The recent action of St John to dismiss Charlie is definitely inconsistent with their stated values.

I feel that Toodyay and the surrounding areas can ill afford to lose a person with such experience, dedication and passion.

If he were a paid employee, he would be afforded support and appeal avenues through Fair Work Australia or an associated union body.

Alas volunteers are not afforded this luxury for something they do without any pay at all.

Where does St John’s public ideal of “service of humanity” come to play in their dealings with him.

How dare they sack a man that we voted for, fully supported and valued to be our leader.

This man is active in other emergency service organisations and is the ‘go to’ person in any contacts and collaboration required to ensure the smooth operation of joint operations and promotional activities.

I am a very disappointed and disillusioned volunteer ambulance officer.