Responders Respect

The not shy bu retiring Margaret Duggan and Shauna Pearse

ecognising the important part they play when it comes to saving lives, the National Ambulance Service offered up a big thank you to our community first responders last night.

A thank you that came in the shape of a rather snazzy medal.

Both the Greystones and the Newcastle Community First Responders were awarded medals, with a special mention going out to Margaret Duggan and Shauna Pearse, who are each retiring after many years of service.

Here’s what the National Ambulance Service had to say…

After over two years of living with a pandemic, the National Ambulance Service were delighted to recognise hundreds of community first responder volunteers around the country who engaged in countless activities and projects in support of their community even in the face of danger.

Since 2020, Greystones and Newcastle CFR volunteers have been involved in supporting their local community by assisting neighbours, attending swab preparation sites, people management at swab and vaccintation centres, new recruits who signed up and trained during this time and all who carried out day-to-day role of the community first responders in terms of responding to 999 calls, even with the risk of Covid-19.

The National Ambulance Service wishes to recognise this outstanding work by CFRs by presenting them a certificate and medal to mark this outstanding contribution.

So, congrats to Amanda Roe, Audrey Healy, Caroline Bolger, Ciara Lafferty, Ciaran Demery, Jonathan Long, Keith O’Brien, Kieran Cronin, Margaret Duggan, Martin McNulty, Paul Keogh, Paula Hill, Ross Thompson, Sam O’Rourke, Shauna Pearse, Sharon Lennon and Simon O’Byrne, whilst for Newcastle, it’s Aisling Barrett, Brendan McAllister, Irene Jennings, Jamie O’Toole, Jane Smith, Janice Brady, Joshua Hayes, Sinead Hussey and Tracey Boxall.

And a big thank you, as always, to John McGowan for catching the ceremony.