General News
17 March, 2026
Generous donation supports Maryborough paramedics
Maryborough’s Ambulance Victoria paramedics are better equipped to support the community, thanks to a recent donation from the Maryborough Ambulance Victoria Auxiliary.
The auxiliary recently donated a new marquee for community engagement and a paediatric resuscitation manikin for training to the local station.
Totaling around $12,000, the two donations mark the continuation of the auxiliary’s drive to give back to the community, something Maryborough team manager and paramedic Andrew Jochs welcomed.
“The community’s support is fantastic and greatly appreciated,” he said.
“Their support allows us to have extra equipment and training that goes back to and directly benefits the community.”
Mr Jochs said the marquee and manikin, while very different, both support vital outcomes in the community.
“Paediatric training manikins are not commonly available, and fortunately our paramedics rarely encounter critically unwell children,” he said.
“Having access to a manikin of this size means we can maintain our skills and be as prepared as possible should we ever need to respond to a seriously ill child.
“The marquee will support our presence at lots of different community events, like school fetes and country markets, and helps us be more identifiable.
“It provides a safe place in all types of weather for us to teach the community vital, life-saving skills and engage with them, and it will be used across the broader Loddon Mallee community.
“It’s an example of the community supporting us, which enables us to support them.”
Part of the money raised for the donation came through a recent fundraiser at the Maryborough Highland Society’s Community Night, where over $1300 was raised for the auxiliary.
Maryborough Ambulance Victoria Auxiliary president Sandra Field said the group’s ongoing efforts are all about community supporting community.
“We are part of a community that has quite a lot of need, not only medical but social and emotional and our contribution to the medical side of things helps in many ways,” she said.
“We do it because we are community and whenever we’re out fundraising, the support is overwhelming.
“We’ll often have people who don’t want to buy a raffle ticket for example, they’re happy to just make a donation for nothing in return. That’s the kind of community we have.”
The auxiliary is always looking for new members, visit ambulance.vic.gov.au/auxiliaries or call 1300 566 435 for more information.
To support Ambulance Victoria via a donation, visit: ambulance.vic.gov.au/donations