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NewsMeet the oldest Air Ambulance Nurse in Australia
Meet the oldest Air Ambulance Nurse in Australia

Meet the oldest Air Ambulance Nurse in Australia

Maureen Roberts has many career highlights to share from her 32 years as Australia’s longest serving air ambulance nurse.

In a recent interview on Macquarie Media, Maureen told the story of the pilot of her aircraft passing out at the controls and how she calmly popped his oxygen mask on and brought him around enough to land the plane. And you thought your job had challenges!

Maureen began her career in the Riverina and became interested in the Air Ambulance are speaking to a fellow nurse from the service. She started her career in Albury but is now based at Mascot, near Sydney.

Another memorable moment of her career involved a premature baby in the skies over the Hunter Valley in NSW. The Air Ambulance needed to land but a FA18 Hornet on “critical fuel” took precedence. Maureen remembers saying to the Air Ambulance pilot “the fighter pilot can eject if he needs to but we can’t, we need to land”!

One of the wonderful things about her job, Maureen told us, is that every day is a different experience depending on the patients you're transporting.

“Sometimes you're taking people home to die and they know they're going to die and they have the most amazing conversations with you."

Hear the full interview with Maureen Roberts here

Originally posted on .

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Robyn
Robyn from NSW commented:

I know of no other countries that charge for a address mail delivery, does anyone know of a another country that does charge like what is being suggested. As for the privatisations, I know of not not one thing that has been privatised where increased costs have not sky-rocketed. . We all know that electricity prices will soar with privatisation, I fear it will kill people, I already know that my elderly neighbour did not have a heating source in his home all winter because he could not afford the insane bills, he froze because of greed. What has Australia become, I thinking not much better than a third world country now. 

Valerie
Valerie from NSW replied to Robyn:

I agree totally with what you have written. However, we need to become a strong lobby group or become political & join the seniors united party..we need strength in numbers beforr anything changes 

Christine
Christine from NSW replied to Valerie:

that's right Valerie strength in numbers. Does anyone remember what that means? Don't just sit back and cop it, speak up, unite let your voice be heard we do not want privatising of our country, bring back jobs and stop companies taking our jobs overseas for less wages and still charging us high prices. I say NO TO PRIVATISING. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Valerie:

Yes, however we need to be something more than a group whining, gimme gimme I want more, they, should, why don't they, I deserve, we should be given, etc, etc. We need to sound more like adults with viable propositions rather than greedy, self involved, cantankerous children. 

Richard
Richard from NSW commented:

What are we paying taxes for?? Always more taxes & charges, talk of an increase in the gst etcetera, but always less service delivery. What are we paying our taxes for, if more and more things that were run by Government are privatised. Does everything have to run at a profit?? Next thing you know they will privatise the Police and maybe public schools, who knows where it will end. I feel that some things just need to be Government run, essential services, things that demand the highest levels of integrity, such as the Police, things that may be difficult to run at a profit if privatised unless they cut service delivery and or increase the cost. Privatisation usually means the major priority will be the return to share holders, not service delivery or costs charged to users / consumers. And the competition argument is not always valid, look what we have with Woolies & Coles, a duopoly that tries to squeeze out small players, & squeezes suppliers dry to maximise their profits. 

Kimberley
Kimberley from NSW commented:

Competition is suppose to keep prices down-prices only rise they never go down, They're too busy paying big bucks to managers that don't deserve it.I remember when we got mail twice a day and also on Saturdays. And yes we will get even worse customer service. 

Terry
Terry from NSW commented:

Just did an on line survey for Aust Post - they are certainly looking at privatisation and reduced service and charging extra for 4 or 5 day delivery. They suggested community mail boxes or picking you mail or parcels up from the Post Office. They suggested charging extra for parcel delivery - you already get charged! 5 day mail delivery would cost an additional $25, 4 day delivery $15 and 3 day delivery nil. Mailo would be delivered every other business day. Here we go! 

Glenn
Glenn from NSW commented:

There is a lot of information supporting the sale of these public holdings, but wait, are we not all trying to get cheaper electricity? Governments privatised and the prices went up as they did with Telecom, and the Commonwealth Bank. The same will happen with Aus Post and Medicare. 

Gary
Gary from NSW commented:

when you have government running a business it will be inneficent and costs will always rise . If sold to private sector share holders want more returns so costs will rise . Maybe better the devil you know . 

Denzo
Denzo from NSW commented:

Sometimes, it's good for a public utility to go private because you get better service. When you call them, you'll be answered locally and not from an overseas call centre. Agh... what do I know! Your electricity or telco or bank provider uses overseas staff for low costs as operation expenses, but... my big question is "Where are the savings?" I know... it's in the Board if Directors pockets, Oops they forgot to pass it on! Lucky for some, that's why they call it the 'Lucky Country'. 

pauline
pauline from NSW commented:

Electricity debate.... when did things go so horribly wrong? For 60 years and more the people of Australia could run the energy needs of a household without concern. Now you cannot turn on a light globe without fear! --- Oh I remember I think the problem became tainted (more like polluted) with a green tinge. Energy/electricity historically has been functioning well run by the state albeit a QANGO for some time. Privatisation might mean better more efficient management. What's the old saying "Absolute power (control) corrupts absolutely". . It wont mean cheaper anything. Private companies are run for profit not out of any social concern. 

Georgina
Georgina from NSW commented:

I don't see why we should be selling off our post service, as we all know prices will still go up. 

Beverley
Beverley from NSW commented:

I can see the logic ofmail deliveries 2/3 times per week, I received all my bank statements, my Centrelink contact, most other letters by email, then maybe at Christmas just put on some casual staff, mainly school age or Pensioners to deliver the extra mail Christmas cards etc, maybe doing this will save Aust Post some money and keep the service in public hands, not some greedy private owner. 

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