Our guest speaker this week Peta Sinclair lives and breathes the small town of Leeton retiring in December last year, she worked here as a paramedic for 25 years.
Her efforts in supporting her community extend far beyond being a paramedic. After retiring, Peta was named Australia Day Citizen of the Year 2022 for Leeton Shire. While her dedicated, compassionate work as a paramedic formed part of the reason she earned this title, it was largely due to her work in the community while not wearing her uniform.
Among the many things Peta has done in a charitable capacity is her involvement with the Leeton Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA), where she also provides up-todate training on CPR, as well as first-aid accreditation.
Peta also dedicates her time to Country Hope and the Riverina Redneck Rally, which raises money to support children with cancer and other life threatening diseases and their families.
She is involved in several mental health support initiatives.
Asked if she had any memorable stories while working in Leeton, Peta said this: “I think the main thing is the privilege of being with someone on what is perhaps the worst day of their life, the last day of their life… or the first day of their life.”
It’s not just patients and the wider community Peta makes a point of supporting. Working in a small town, Peta has prioritised being there to give a helping hand to new paramedics who have joined her station and faced isolation from their families at times due to COVID-19.
“During COVID, to have people who came to the town and couldn’t go home, there was nothing they could do about it,” she said. “So we to try and get them connected by making them included in things.” Following her retirement, Peta hopes to travel more. But, not surprisingly, she will continue her charitable work.
********************************
VRA Rescue NSW Finalists - PETA SINCLAIR – CAPS, Trainer & Assessor – Leeton
No emergency service can operate without equipment, and Peta Sinclair, a full-time paramedical for 27 years, now retired, devoted herself to the VRA Rescue NSW at Leeton. She found that during long, hot operation involving a fatal car accident, there was urgent need for a car fridge. She and a colleague reportedly “pounded the footpath” in mid-summer to get the funds. The people of Leeton needed no more convincing. Enough money came in for two fridges, one of which then went to the Salvation Army.
Peta, who is dedicated to first-aid training and assessment within VRA Rescue NSW, and a member of the Leeton Healthcare Community Action Group, has participated in community events such as Rural Outreach Counselling and annual Riverine Redneck Rally to travel widely to raise money.
********************************
Graeme’s Something to Smile About
Director’s Roundup 
Silly Joke / Meme 
