Latest news with #RFDS
Perth Now
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
WA boy hailed hero for saving dad in horror tractor accident
Paul 'Pablo' Sleeman, who saved his father's life following an horrendous tractor accident, has been named the Shire of Denmark's Youth Citizen of the Year. The 13-year-old, known by all as Pablo, called 000 and alerted his mother when his father, Dr Alex Sleeman, was critically injured after his tractor rolled in September last year, pinning him underneath. The popular Denmark GP suffered serious spinal injuries, but his son's quick actions helped get him to Denmark Hospital within the hour and then, via the Royal Flying Doctor Service, to Perth. Since the accident, with his father learning to walk again, Pablo has raised more than $32,000 for the RFDS, which has also included a family fitness challenge. Deputy shire president Jan Lewis said he had also helped rescue swimmers from local beaches. 'He has shown exceptional bravery and compassion, leadership and dedication to community safety, making him an inspiring role model,' she said. Shaun Ossinger, a dedicated environmentalist, sports coach and mentor, was named the shire's Community Citizen of the Year. Cr Lewis said his leadership of the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee was testament to his dedication to environmental matters. Paul 'Pablo' Sleeman, 13, Bradley Woodruff, Lesley Murphy, Anthony McEwan, Jy Drummond, 15, Shaun Ossinger and Darin Hockley. Credit: Serena Kirby 'Shaun's unwavering commitment to our environment and community has left a profound and lasting impact on the shire,' she said. As well as being an environmental champion, Mr Ossinger is also a basketball coach, a student mentor and drives a sailing safety boat. The Senior Citizen of the Year was Lesley Murphy, recognised for her tireless volunteer work with St John WA, the St Ayles Skiffs and the Bowling and Recreation Club. 'Her dedication, leadership and quiet acts of kindness make her an inspiration and deeply deserving community champion,' Cr Lewis said. Capt. Darin Hockey accepted the Group Citizen of the Year award, representing the Denmark Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service. A shire statement said the group was recognised for 'over 60 years of courage, leadership, and community spirit, in responding to emergencies, educating the public, and mentoring future volunteers'. In the sport presentations, Anthony McEwan earned the senior award having been recognised for his contribution to Denmark's surf lifesaving club. Mountain biker Jy Drummond, 15, won the junior award while the Service to Sport award went to Bradley Woodruff for his commitment to supporting young athletes across multiple sports. The awards were announced at a volunteer appreciation sundowner at the town's Resource Centre Gallery on Saturday. The theme of the evening was National Volunteer Week's Connecting Communities.
West Australian
28-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Paul Sleeman named Youth Citizen of the Year after saving dad's life and raising $32k for Royal Flying Doctors
Paul 'Pablo' Sleeman, who saved his father's life following an horrendous tractor accident, has been named the Shire of Denmark's Youth Citizen of the Year. The 13-year-old, known by all as Pablo, called 000 and alerted his mother when his father, Dr Alex Sleeman, was critically injured after his tractor rolled in September last year, pinning him underneath. The popular Denmark GP suffered serious spinal injuries, but his son's quick actions helped get him to Denmark Hospital within the hour and then, via the Royal Flying Doctor Service, to Perth. Since the accident, with his father learning to walk again, Pablo has raised more than $32,000 for the RFDS, which has also included a family fitness challenge. Deputy shire president Jan Lewis said he had also helped rescue swimmers from local beaches. 'He has shown exceptional bravery and compassion, leadership and dedication to community safety, making him an inspiring role model,' she said. Shaun Ossinger, a dedicated environmentalist, sports coach and mentor, was named the shire's Community Citizen of the Year. Cr Lewis said his leadership of the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee was testament to his dedication to environmental matters. 'Shaun's unwavering commitment to our environment and community has left a profound and lasting impact on the shire,' she said. As well as being an environmental champion, Mr Ossinger is also a basketball coach, a student mentor and drives a sailing safety boat. The Senior Citizen of the Year was Lesley Murphy, recognised for her tireless volunteer work with St John WA, the St Ayles Skiffs and the Bowling and Recreation Club. 'Her dedication, leadership and quiet acts of kindness make her an inspiration and deeply deserving community champion,' Cr Lewis said. Capt. Darin Hockey accepted the Group Citizen of the Year award, representing the Denmark Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service. A shire statement said the group was recognised for 'over 60 years of courage, leadership, and community spirit, in responding to emergencies, educating the public, and mentoring future volunteers'. In the sport presentations, Anthony McEwan earned the senior award having been recognised for his contribution to Denmark's surf lifesaving club. Mountain biker Jy Drummond, 15, won the junior award while the Service to Sport award went to Bradley Woodruff for his commitment to supporting young athletes across multiple sports. The awards were announced at a volunteer appreciation sundowner at the town's Resource Centre Gallery on Saturday. The theme of the evening was National Volunteer Week's Connecting Communities.
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
What to Watch: Our Medicine, And Just Like That, Pee-wee As Himself, Bono: Stories Of Surrender and Dept. Q
Leah Purcell narrates this fantastic doco series, which takes viewers behind the frontline of Australia's medical services — but from a very different perspective. The series focuses on the excellent work being done by First Nations healthcare professionals across Australia, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, as well as practitioners of traditional medicine, all working to improve healthcare outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The doco crew was granted unique access to various teams, embedded with the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS), Queensland Ambulance Service, Cairns Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital — they also spent time with the folks at Jalngangurru Healing in Western Australia. In episode one, we learn how patients are being treated using traditional practices by local healers in Fitzroy Crossing. Then it's over to a busy ER on the other side of the country to check in with the many and varied cases coming through Cairns Hospital's doors. As the documentary points out, life expectancy for First Nations peoples in Australia is approximately eight years lower than that of non-Indigenous Australians, and it's great to see trials like the one being done in the Kimberley approaching issues in healthcare through a new lens. As Purcell says in the first episode, 'From maintaining and reviving cultural practices, to making their mark in our overburdened health services, these are the medical practitioners blazing a trail to better outcomes.' This is a brilliant insight into the work being done to make healthcare better — hats off to everyone involved. Matthew Goode stars as DCI Carl Morck, a once-brilliant detective battling some serious inner demons. He's been put in charge of a cold case department, set up as a PR stunt to distract from the failures of the Edinburgh police force he was once an integral part of. Along with his unusual basement-dwelling colleagues, he's reopening a case most would rather be kept forgotten. This is generating lots of early buzz — don't miss it. Pee-wee Herman was a huge part of our lives in the 80s and 90s — if you know anything about the comedian, real name Paul Reubens, you'll be aware of the reasons why he retreated from the spotlight. This doco, made with Reubens' approval before his death in 2023, attempts to paint a picture of who he was away from his cartoon persona, using interviews with the star and archival footage. But by the end, are we any closer to learning where Reubens ends and Pee-wee begins? Maybe not. And just like that, we're back again with Carrie and the gang for season three as they navigate this next chapter of their post-menopausal life in New York City. Thankfully, this time the ever-annoying Che Diaz isn't along for the ride. But Aidan is — whether you'll be pleased about this very much depends on where you sit in the Aidan-Carrie debate. Still enjoying this show and won't hear a bad word against it — anything that celebrates women-of-a-certain-age living their best lives, I can very much get onboard with. 'These are the tall tales of a short rock star,' says Bono in this doco, which made its debut at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It sees the Irish rocker solo on a stage, riffing about his family, his life and his astonishingly successful career. It's a very different setting to the mega-arenas Bono is used to, and between his anecdotes, the star performs 'unplugged' renditions of some of his biggest songs accompanied by harp and cello. One for fans, of which there are plenty.
West Australian
22-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
State Government yet to confirm if funding for Geraldton RFDS base will be included in next month's Budget
The State Government is remaining coy about funding for a Geraldton base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in its upcoming Budget. One of Labor's commitments ahead of the State election was to provide $7.5 million for a local RFDS base, which at the time was estimated to be about half the required amount to deliver the facility. In Parliament on Tuesday, Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr put the question to Health Minister Meredith Hammat, asking what the status of the project was, whether the minister was aware of the cost, and why the Government was 'short-changing this critically important regional health facility'. In response, Ms Hammat acknowledged it was an important election commitment, but said the details would be revealed in next month's State Budget. 'All of our election commitments are subject to the budget process,' she said. 'The Budget will be handed down in this place in June and we will have more to say about it then.' When asked if the full amount would be delivered as part of the Budget, Ms Hammat said the State Government was proud of the commitment to deliver, but needed to respect the budget process. Ms Warr urged the State Government to provide a clear update on the project. 'While the health minister hides behind the State Budget process, other ministers have already started promoting election commitments, such as the country week assistance program and the new Burswood Park entertainment precinct, well in advance of the Budget,' Ms Warr said. 'Ever since the election campaign ended, it appears WA Labor no longer views the RFDS base in Geraldton as a priority, despite the urgent need for this project.' Ms Hammat has been contacted for further comment.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Eastern Goldfields RFDS Auxiliary raises almost $3000 on Flying Doctor Day
The Eastern Goldfields RFDS Auxiliary raised almost $3000 from its fundraising activities on Flying Doctor Day last Thursday. The auxiliary ran a grocery and wood raffle outside Coles Kalgoorlie as part of Statewide efforts for the medical service which is essential to regional and remote WA communities. Auxiliary president Gemma Abbott said the organisation appreciated the generosity of the Goldfields community for stopping by to donate or buy raffle tickets. Ms Abbott said it was also heartwarming to hear all the stories of how the RFDS had saved their life or the life of someone close to them. 'Community members enjoyed receiving a free Royal Flying (Doctor Service) calendar, and the kids loved the free balloons, stickers, and aeroplanes to make at home,' she said. She said RFDS WA raised $1.58 million Statewide, with this figure to be matched by the organisation's partners — CBH Group, IGO, Roy Hill, Sandfire Resources and Byrnecut. Ms Abbott said RFDS WA had raised enough to fully fit out its two brand-new PC-12 aircraft that would soon take to the skies across WA. 'These aircraft are vital to delivering lifesaving care to those who live, work and travel in our State, and none of this would be possible without you,' she said.
