Fiona and Tinesh’s legacies live on through inaugural memorial scholarship recipients 

• Five scholarships awarded in memory of beloved fallen St John WA (SJWA) team members Fiona Lavelle and Tinesh Tamilkodi, 

• Winners include three First Nations students who will pursue paramedicine and nursing at Edith Cowan University, 

• SJWA paramedics Carla Robson and Kevin Keane received leadership and development scholarships to continue their late colleagues’ legacies of learning.  

Five deserving scholarship recipients are set to continue the legacies of fallen St John WA team members Fiona Lavelle and Tinesh Tamilkodi.  

The Fiona Lavelle and Tinesh Tamilkodi Memorial Scholarships were created by SJWA and their families to honour the dedicated paramedics’ shared passion for lifelong learning and service to humanity.  

The scholarships were launched in February to mark the 12-month anniversary of respected Ambulance Paramedic Fiona’s death in a hiking incident while off-duty. 

They also pay tribute to beloved Clinical Support Paramedic Tinesh, who died in a car crash en route to a Priority 1 call-out in November last year. 

Two types of scholarships – each worth $20,000 – were presented to five worthy recipients on Tuesday, alongside Fiona and Tinesh’s loved ones.  

Fiona’s partner John McLoughlin and Tinesh’s close colleague Clinical Hub Paramedic Daniel Sutorious worked closely with the selection panel to choose the final five winners.  

Three tuition scholarships were awarded to First Nations students to pursue health sciences qualifications at Edith Cowan University.  

Only two tuition scholarships were initially on offer when applications opened, but the panel chose to award an extra scholarship as they could not separate the impressive winners.  

These include 21-year-old Kaitlyn Barrow who will study a Bachelor of Science (Paramedical Science).

Kaitlyn is an SJWA Event Health Services volunteer who joined as a teenager and in her spare time mentors Aboriginal high school students. 

Busselton mum of three and SJWA country volunteer Renee Fury will also pursue a Bachelor of Science (Paramedical Studies). 

Dunsborough local Amber Pidek will use the scholarship to study a Bachelor of Science (Nursing).  

She will follow in the footsteps of her grandmother, a nurse and Stolen Generation survivor, and hopes to one day become a doctor. 

Two leadership and development scholarships were awarded to SJWA team members Carla Robson and Keven Keane, who were selected from among 28 exceptional applications. 

The pair are shining examples of the SJWA values: Lead with Heart, Think Team, Make it Better and Walk the Talk. 

Carla is a Clinical Hub Paramedic who will pursue her postgraduate studies in clinical leadership through a Graduate Certificate in Health Leadership and Management. 

The former Laverton community paramedic is passionate about offering services in remote areas and working with closely SJWA’s dedicated country volunteers. 

Kevin, an Ambulance Paramedic, will pursue a Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education focusing on prehospital obstetrics care.  

He aims to publish a research project on prehospital post-partum haemorrhage management. 

Kevin is passionate about continual professional development and the difference research can make to best practice, as well as supporting the professional development of others.  

Group CEO Kevin Brown said the scholarships were a fitting tribute to the two compassionate, humble and hardworking team members who were deeply missed. 

“It was a privilege to be joined by Fiona and Tinesh’s families to celebrate the inaugural scholarship winners,” he said.  

“This initiative will be a lasting legacy that captures Fiona and Tinesh’s strong passion and desire to teach others.”