“I’ve been volunteering for the Rescue Helicopter for 34 years, since 1982. When I was still working full time I would do the weekend of the show selling tickets in the Fat Bull competition. Now I do it every weekend, markets and events.
How I got involved with the rescue helicopter was, I was in Vietnam for 12 months and I knew what the helicopters could do. They were life saving machines. I knew if anyone got hit over in Vietnam they were only 50 mins away to a medical facility.
I’m a local, I was born here, out in Rock Valley, a home birth and I joined the army when I was 18. I was then 2 years over in Malay, Thailand and Borneo attached to the British Army. I returned and was sent to Vietnam for 12 months. I came back again and married a local girl. We have a daughter in Coraki and son in South Australia. I have a grandaughter and grandson in Coraki and 3 grandsons in SA.
I’m also involved with Driver Reviver down at New Italy and I’m a life member of the RSL. I was awarded the OAM in the Australia Day awards for all the voluntary work I’ve done for the Rescue Helicopter and I’m so proud of that and in 2011 I got the Lismore Citizen of the Year. You’re going to be sick of me! haha. I love doing what I’m doing. It’s good therapy for me. Everybody comes to me here at the markets positive and I just love it. If I had to do my life all over again, I’d do the same thing, the war service, everything. “
How I got involved with the rescue helicopter was, I was in Vietnam for 12 months and I knew what the helicopters could do. They were life saving machines. I knew if anyone got hit over in Vietnam they were only 50 mins away to a medical facility.
I’m a local, I was born here, out in Rock Valley, a home birth and I joined the army when I was 18. I was then 2 years over in Malay, Thailand and Borneo attached to the British Army. I returned and was sent to Vietnam for 12 months. I came back again and married a local girl. We have a daughter in Coraki and son in South Australia. I have a grandaughter and grandson in Coraki and 3 grandsons in SA.
I’m also involved with Driver Reviver down at New Italy and I’m a life member of the RSL. I was awarded the OAM in the Australia Day awards for all the voluntary work I’ve done for the Rescue Helicopter and I’m so proud of that and in 2011 I got the Lismore Citizen of the Year. You’re going to be sick of me! haha. I love doing what I’m doing. It’s good therapy for me. Everybody comes to me here at the markets positive and I just love it. If I had to do my life all over again, I’d do the same thing, the war service, everything. “