General News
27 July, 2026
Ambos on the road 21 years
AMBULANCE community officers have been joined by residents and the community for a double celebration in Wedderburn.
AMBULANCE community officers have been joined by residents and the community for a double celebration in Wedderburn.
The event marked the the 21st anniversary of the Wedderburn Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and CERT Committee and the 10th anniversary of the Wedderburn Ambulance Community Officers.
A highlight of the celebration was the presentation of long-service awards.
Glenn Thompson – 20 Years
Karen Thompson – 15 Years
Lynne Gondar – 10 Years.
Glenn Thompson holds a special place in the history of the service, having been one of the first rostered crew members when the Wedderburn CERT commenced operations in April 2005.
The anniversary celebrations also recognised the support provided by families, employers and friends of volunteers and ambulance community officers.
Senior team manager for Wedderburn and Boort, Josh King, said: “The origins of the service date back to 2004, when local community members successfully advocated for improved ambulance services in Wedderburn.
“Following overwhelming community support, the volunteer CERT team was established, with operations commencing on April 25, 2005, after months of intensive training.
“In 2016, the transitioned to an ACO team, enabling locally and regionally based officers to provide an expanded ambulance response capability through the addition of a stretcher ambulance and dedicated station.
“The celebration recognised the contribution of both the CERT volunteers and committee members, who have played a vital role in supporting emergency response in the community for more than two decades, and the ambulance community officers, whose dedication continues to deliver high-quality care to the Wedderburn community and surrounding districts. Today, the Wedderburn ACO team is one of the busiest community ACO teams in Victoria, responding to around 600 cases annually and supporting communities well beyond Wedderburn, including Swan Hill, Bendigo and Ballarat.”
Mr King said the service’s impact extended beyond patient care.
“Fourteen former Wedderburn ambulance community officers have gone on to become paramedics across Victoria, New South Wales and internationally, demonstrating the program’s success as a pathway into the profession,” he said.
“The Wedderburn ACO team was also recognised with Ambulance Victoria’s Loddon Mallee Team of the Year Award in 2020, becoming the first ACO team to receive the honour,” Mr King said.
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