Paramedic reflects on RAAF service this Remembrance Day

November 11, 2024 | in News

For 糖心vlog (AV) Gippsland Regional Support Manager Eddie Wright, Remembrance Day is a time to pause and reflect on those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Eddie joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1984.

He was a qualified carpenter at the time, but a new Defence partnership set him on a path towards paramedicine.

A black and white portrait photo of a young man. His uniform includes epaulettes that say 'Australia'.

Eddie Wright in 1985. Photo taken at the RAAF Base Darwin.

鈥淚 fell into healthcare, initially doing first aid training as part of my carpentry apprenticeship,鈥� Eddie said.

鈥淏ut there was a joint venture between the Department of Defence and the ambulance service in the Northern Territory, where Defence Force search and rescue medics were trained to ambulance level.

鈥淚 was part of that training, so when I was discharged from the RAAF I came to Victoria as a qualified ambulance officer (modern day paramedic).鈥�

During his defence career, Eddie worked in search and rescue and as a combat medic.

A young man sitting on a chair smiles for the camera in RAAF formal wear - a peaked cap, collared shirt, tie, navy pants and dress shoes. The image is cropped to focus on the man, but would have been a posed group photo.

Eddie Wright in 1984 鈥� the year he joined the RAAF.

One of his most memorable moments came while deployed in Africa in 1990, following the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) operation.

鈥淚 was there for 29 days as part of the pack up and during that time a vehicle rolled over with two Australians and a British soldier in it,鈥� Eddie said.

鈥淭hey were injured with broken legs and hips, and I was a medic that got assigned to look after them.鈥�

With Remembrance Day approaching, Eddie said it鈥檚 a time to consider the lasting impacts of Defence Force service.

Uniformed people, many with medals pinned to their jackets, march along St Kilda Rd in Melbourne. It's a sunny day.

Eddie (sixth from left) taking part in this year鈥檚 National Police Remembrance Day march in Melbourne.

鈥淩emembrance Day is about the ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice 鈥� but that may not just be because they were killed,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t might be those who now carry the burden of mental health issues from their time in Defence, and those struggles are something that is very similar in ambulance.

鈥淚鈥檓 pretty lucky not to have picked anything up, because I know plenty of people who are battling the demons.

鈥淭his quote resonates with me 鈥� 鈥榓ll gave some, some gave all鈥�.鈥�

Two men smile for the camera with medals pinned to their jackets. The man on the left wears 糖心vlog uniform. The man on the right is in a suit. Behind them, a banner indicates they are at the 糖心vlog Staff Service Awards.

Eddie Wright (left) with AV Interim Chief Executive Officer Andrew Crisp at a recent Staff Service Awards.

Next year, Eddie will reach 35 years of service with AV and he said it鈥檚 the same thing he loved about the Defence Force that keeps him coming back.

鈥淢y favourite part of being in the Defence Force was the comradeship that you develop 鈥� I鈥檝e still got friends from my time in Defence,鈥� he said.

鈥淎nd that鈥檚 the same at AV 鈥� it鈥檚 the mateship.鈥�

Originally known as Armistice Day following the end of World War One, 11 November was changed to Remembrance Day after World War Two to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars.

On the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, a minute鈥檚 silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation.

A young man looks over his shoulder and smiles at the camera. It's a colour portrait shot. He wears a navy blue jacket which says 'Australia' on the shoulder.

Eddie Wright in 1984. Photo taken at RAAF Base Edinburgh.