Putting the boot into Emergency Services at AFL rounds
St John WA joined WA Police Force and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) on the field and in the fan zone across two AFL emergency services rounds this season, helping celebrate the frontline personnel who keep Western Australians safe while showcasing the organisation’s life-saving work to thousands of football fans.
West Coast Eagles may not have walked away winners at their Emergency Services round on July 18, but St John WA did after running down the competition in the quarter-time Emergency Services sprint.
The Eagles’ game against Brisbane Lions at Optus Stadium drew a home crowd of 50,802, which resulted in a 13.15 (93) to 10.9 (69) bruising clash in the two-time reigning premiers’ favour.
St John WA paramedics Nick Overington, Daniel Fleay, and Kad Combes must have taken heart from the Eagles early lead in the opening quarter to beat WA Police and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) personnel in the running relay race – cheered on by Kura Bear and 12 fellow St John WA teammates.
Fifteen team members from Urgent Care, Event Health Services, Youth & Community, Patient Transport, Fleet and Radio, ambulance and support services formed a ‘guard of honour’ at the start of the game, with Nick from Medical Directorate taking the coin toss.
St John was also well represented at the stadium’s ‘fan zone’ on the Western Concourse where ambulance familiarisation tours, DRSABCD test and CPR races were conducted by the First Aid Awareness team.
St John again faced off against WA Police and DFES at Optus Stadium in the opening kick at goal for the Fremantle Dockers’ Lights and Sirens round on July 31.
Narrogin country ambulance transport officer, regional training development coordinator and diehard Dockers fan, Amanda Howell, was lucky enough to do the coin toss.
Amanda travelled to Perth from Wagin to also join her partner, WA Police Force’s David Holmes, and 14 other St John WA team members in the guard of honour before the match.
Throughout the match, two St John team members also flashed the ambulance lights after every Fremantle goal against the Western Bulldogs, helping bring the emergency services theme to life for the crowd.
These match-day partnerships provide a valuable opportunity to recognise the dedication of emergency services personnel while giving thousands of football fans a chance to learn more about the vital work carried out by St John, WA Police Force and DFES.
Eagles ‘Next-Gen’ Emergency Services Round Photos
Dockers ‘Lights and Sirens’ Round Photos
