I HAVE been a member of the St John Ambulance Toodyay Sub-Centre for about four years in a non-operational role as a weekend and relief phone coordinator.
The phone coordinators for the Toodyay sub-centre take calls from the State Communications Centre.
We are told the priority of the job, priority one being the highest for patients with possible life-threatening injuries or health issues – blue lights and sirens.
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We are also asked to do hospital transfers from Northam to metropolitan hospitals and from regional towns which need a patient transferred to Northam.
The phone coordinator then calls out the crew which can be at any time during the day or night.
On almost every call I have taken over the past four years, Charlie Wroth has been on the line as well.
He has backed up almost every call 24 hours a day for years.
Charlie has always been there to give me advice if needed and provide support when required.
Because he is no longer able to be involved with St John in any capacity, I am feeling lost.
There are others who are as capable on the phones but it was Charlie who gave me the confidence to handle the most difficult calls.
When necessary, he would attend a call-out as a first responder, so if he was closer to the patient he could be there before the ambulance arrived.
All of this expertise and experience has now been lost to the Toodyay community.
St John in Toodyay will still have an ambulance there for you, day and night, seven days a week but be aware that we have lost one of our biggest hearts and a most dedicated volunteer.
Heather Appleby
Toodyay
