When Ray Walsh joined the Ambulance Service in 1978, all he needed was a driver’s licence and a first aid ticket.
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Over the last 39 years as a paramedic he has witnessed many changes and worn many hats in his role.
“I’ve had other duties I trained for in that time, I spent some time training probationary paramedics when they came into the job and I’ve trained more than 200 ambos in four-wheel drive techniques,” Mr Walsh said.
But after 16 years with Warilla Ambulance Station and 18 years with Kiama, retirement has lured Mr Walsh.
“I’ve sort of been planning my retirement for a few years, but it was just a matter of waiting for the right time and that’s now,” he said.
“I think when you’re making a decision to retire, the first thing you make sure is right is your financial situation and the family is settled. We’ve got to that stage and it’s time for us to enjoy a bit of life.”
Mr Walsh, who has lived and worked in the Illawarra all his life, made the decision to join the Ambulance Service with the flip of a coin.
“I was a boiler maker at the steel works for six years, but it was a hot, heavy, dirty job and as much as I liked it I didn’t want to do that all my life,” he said.
“So I tossed a coin and the Ambulance Service won the toss. That was 40 years ago and I’m glad the coin went that way.
“Personally it’s been very satisfying. I love working with people, I love the thought that I could go up to anybody’s house in uniform and walk in and be welcome, people wanted us to get in there and help. We get a lot of thanks.
“Wollongong, Warilla and Kiama have been good places to work – you don’t get a lot of harassment, we are pretty well respected.”
Mr Walsh has been involved with a number of high-profile Illawarra cases, including the murders of Frank Arkell, David O’Hearn and Jack van Krevel.
“It’s one of the biggest and most involved memories I have, I was the first official person on the scene at David O’Hearn’s murder,” he said.
“Because of that job and because I knew the family, I lived in the area and knew so much about the story it got into me, I never forgot it.”