SOUTHERN Grampians Ambulance Community Officer (ACO), Dunkeld’s Dave Tyson has bid farewell to “the best job in the world.”

After five years as an ACO caring for the Glenthompson community and, before that, a 15-year career as a paramedic, Mr Tyson has officially retired from his impactful role at Ambulance Victoria (AV).

Mr Tyson said the highlights of his paramedic career were, “The remarkable affection and respect you develop for your dear brother and sister colleagues working alongside you in often such highly stressful situations”.

“They will always be such special people to me,” he said.

“Secondly, you have the incredible privilege of being the first person to walk through someone’s doorway and begin to make perhaps their worst day into something healthier and happier.

“A smile on a casualties’ face is priceless.”

His career began when he was 21 years old, after he came across local paramedics while he was working in a hospital as an orderly.

“I noticed some people in blue pushing stretchers through the hospital and thought it would be an interesting job,” he said.

“I applied and was accepted, with my first posting at Moorabbin.

“I was fortunate to have wonderful superintendents there who embraced their new recruits.”

After 15 years working in Melbourne, Mr Tyson decided to take a 20-year career break from AV.

“Being a paramedic is a wonderful job, but it can be a high-pressure environment,” he said.

“I needed a break and so I became a ranger with Parks Victoria for the next 20 years.”

After working as a ranger on French Island, Point Nepean, Beechworth and the Grampians, Mr Tyson said he had “unfinished business with AV.”

“I became an ACO at the Beechworth and Glenthompson branches and it was a wonderful way for me to return,” he said.

“I still got the same challenging jobs I used to as a paramedic, but I had the paramedic support that arrives soon after.”

ACOs are employed by AV on a casual basis to work on-call in rural and remote communities and volunteer much of their time to maintaining their skills.

They are trained to provide advanced first aid and are often the first on scene, before ambulance back up arrives.

Mr Tyson was officially farewelled by his Southern Grampians colleagues at the Glenthompson branch recently.

Paramedic Community Support Coordinator, (PCSC) Jim Falla said he had made a significant contribution to AV.

“Dave is a fantastic, caring person with the welfare of others as his driving motivation,” Mr Falla said.

“We have been so lucky to have him as part of the Southern Grampians team over the last few years and his care and compassion for the community and his ambulance family has been beautiful to see.”

Mr Tyson said he was looking forward to spending more time with his wife Leonie and on his other passion, World War 1 history.

“As a 21-year-old paramedic, I had the wonderful experience of caring for a First War veteran who had been a light horseman during his service,” he said.

“He described spurring on his horse over trenches, and from interviewing him after work, a passion developed to relate his and his mates stories through a museum (the Australian Light Horse Heritage Collection in Dunkeld).”

The museum has commemorated these servicemen through displays of remarkable items and stories, and is open admission free to all.

“We are delighted to have visitors view the displays,” he said.

Mr Tyson added that he was incredibly impressed by the new generation of paramedics.

“I have huge respect and affection for all AV people, and a great love for my Glenthompson ACO colleagues,” he said.

“They are lovely people, always keen to learn and care for their community.”