General News
5 December, 2022
Aeromedical facility to open this Friday
The Maryborough Aeromedical Transfer Station (MATS) will be officially opened this Friday, after some four years of community campaigning and work. Constructed at the Maryborough Aerodrome, the MATS building comes as a result of significant...
The Maryborough Aeromedical Transfer Station (MATS) will be officially opened this Friday, after some four years of community campaigning and work.
Constructed at the Maryborough Aerodrome, the MATS building comes as a result of significant community investment, with locals raising $120,000 to get the facility off the ground and local trades pledging their support.
The transfer station will provide an indoor space protected from the elements for paramedics to treat patients while waiting to transfer them to air ambulances.
MATS steering committee member Anthony Ohlsen said a committee was formed and work on the project began after seeing the impact similar facilities in Victoria had.
“Previously if someone is in need of an air ambulance, it would land at Princes Park and crowds of people would go along to watch,” he said.
“We realised the potential for the MATS facility to provide privacy for people in need of transport but also to provide better working conditions for paramedics on the ground.
“The new facility is fully covered so paramedics are protected from the sun or rain and it is conveniently placed at the aerodrome.
“It’s been a long time coming and driven by Dianne Mullins, who sadly passed away recently. Di’s efforts to make this idea a reality will be remembered by the community for lifetimes to come.”
Ambulance Victoria Maryborough Branch manager Mark Passalick said the MATS facility showed how driven the local community is.
“Just as they did 100 years ago when they raised funds to buy their first motorised ambulance, the Maryborough community have come together again with generous support and hard work for the MATS project,” he said.
“This is in terms of monetary donations and of in-kind goods and services from a range of community groups and businesses which is exceptional.
“Some would say it’s a whole of community effort providing a facility such as MATS, to improve community health outcomes for Maryborough and the surrounding community.
“It’s also an accomplishment by the late Di Mullins who worked tirelessly on this. Three cheers for Di.”
The new facility, located at 1/136 Leviathan Road, Maryborough, will be officially opened this Friday, December 9 at 1.30 pm.
Community members are invited to attend the opening, where the facility will be officially handed over to Ambulance Victoria on the day.
Donors, sponsors and contributors to the project who helped it become a reality will be present on the day.