Esperance hero retires after more than 30 years of service

Esperance’s first community paramedic Paul Gaughan is calling it a day after 14 years in the role. 

Paul’s journey with St John WA began more than 30 years ago, and there would be very few in country emergency response who wouldn’t have worked with, learned from or heard of him. 

Over the years, Paul became a clinician, mentor, volunteer leader, advocate and trusted voice for regional healthcare and inter-agency emergency response. 

Paul came to in Esperance in 2011 to support volunteers across the Esperance region and strengthen local ambulance services, which grew up to 90 volunteer ambulance officers and support staff. 

In 2013, he received St John WA’s Hero Award for courage and exceptional judgement in providing assistance and first aid. 

In 2016, he was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal in recognition of his outstanding service to paramedicine. 

In 2017, he was named WA Volunteer Manager of the Year. 

But his reach and impact went much farther. 

After the community was rocked by a succession of shark attacks, Paul implemented Marine Trauma Response Resource (MTRR) kits being installed along the coast. 

When the emergency call came on a Sunday in June 2021, while painting his house off-duty, Paul did not hesitate to help co-ordinate the rescue of dirt bike rider who was injured on a remote dune east of Esperance. 

When WA Police (WAPOL), marine and air rescue services could not reach the patient, Paul did not give up. 

He and a team of volunteers carefully loaded and secured the patient in the small rear tray of an All-Terrain Vehicle. 

Despite the unforgiving terrain and temperatures, the patient reached hospital in reasonably good spirits. 

Paul attended everything from major road trauma and farming accidents to cardiac arrests, during some of the most difficult incidents the community has faced. 

And people, whether in his team, other agencies or in the community, was always at the heart of all that he did. 

“Thank you, Paul, for your service, your leadership and the lasting impact you have had on Esperance and across Western Australia,” said Chief Emergency Officer Wil White.