I find it pretty hard to say a bad word about paramedics.

My blood boils every time I hear about another paramedic bashed in the line of duty.

Several times now, they’ve collected me from the mean streets of Geelong in a state where I’ve needed urgent repair.

The most recent life saving journey was Australia Day of 2014.

All I remember was laying in a pool of my own blood in my front yard after a bit of push and shove with an army of toxic teenage avengers who decided to visit at midnight and welcome themselves violently into my domain.

I recall hoping like hell those lights I could barely see through my swollen eyes were an ambulance, and not the headlights of the grimreaper on his way.

It must have been an ambulance, as I woke up in hospital a little worse for wear a day or so later, and here I am today. 😀

Fucking idiot kids eh?

So yeah, I have a soft spot for paramedics, lifesavers they are.

I never got to meet those who helped, or thank them in any way either, but that’s what paramedics do, day after day, often without thanks.

So, thank you, whoever you are

I recall when the Geelong Facebook Page was alive and well, we’d often receive submissions from the public showing local ambulances carrying slogans of protest, and I allowed a few to publish.

A few members of the public cried “don’t bring politics onto the page“.

If you can’t support paramedics when they feel betrayed, you’re not worth listening to I say.

Regardless of what was posted, somebody always found a reason to complain, even more so when you spoke ill of the Liberal government of the day.

Such touchy petals, those Liberal voters.

I’ll have the backs of paramedics any day.

You’re better than this Geelong

I’ve been a little disappointed in my home town of late, and perhaps via the Geelong Facebook Page I learned a little more about Geelong than I intended.

Some things I’m not even willing to say, out of fear they’ll call in the white coats and come take me away.

But yeah, I’ve seen some shit… and learned a lot since.

Not everything I’ve learned has impressed me by the way.

I can’t say I’m too impressed with local police efforts of late.

Landing a book of charges at me (which I’ve yet to face), failing to perform their duties (in my opinion), and causing me all kinds of personal bullshit.

I reckon I’ve copped in the past year or so arrests on every single topic in the A to Z manual of sooky far right wing extremist idiots with permanent fingers pointing my way.

While police sit and watch those same idiots coming at me to do as they please.

So disappointed in fact, that I made a submission to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), and the Police Conduct Unit.

I don’t expect anything to happen though… I’m not the first and won’t be the last to feel I’ve been ill-treated by police.

(By the way, I’m not talking about anything I’ve pleaded guilty to and landed myself into prison for either…)

Now police corruption and misconduct I can understand and expect in a way.

The job of a police officer kind lends itself to the dark side, mixing with shady characters almost every day, the temptation is surely there in their face.

Now, before the boys in blue get pissy at me for speaking my mind, I am in no way blaming you all, but I have fair reasons and evidence to say what I say.

You’re way better than this Geelong

While on the topic of IBAC and corruption, get a load of this!

I am a little shocked, or rather, completely shocked to see the latest report from IBAC, released just a day or so ago.

Like fucking WHAM!… the latest bombshell to belt Geelong over the fence for six and out contains some pretty serious findings about our local ambulance service.

Fifteen of our local paramedics have been caught up in a drug scandal, participating in drug trafficking, usage of illegal drugs as well as usage of drugs involved in their line of duty.

Warrnambool and the Surf Coast were also named in the damaging IBAC report tabled in parliament this week, outlining the culture of drug taking and self-protection (aka corruption) within Ambulance Victoria.

Understandable in a way I guess.

The Coroners Court of Victoria in 2016 found the suicide rate of paramedics was three times higher than that of police officers or firefighters.

Being a paramedic must be one hell of a stressful job, and stress can take a toll on anyone and make them do stupid, stupid things.

But just like the odd crooked cop, there’s bound to be a few bad seeds in every job, giving the rest a bad name.

You can’t blame everything on stress.

There’s such a thing as being a jerk as well.

A few paramedics were found to be treating the hangovers via intravenous bags stolen from work.

Stress doesn’t even rate when that kinda of tomfoolery is in play.

One paramedic was sacked, eight resigned while under investigation, and another six are still on the job but received formal warnings.

Five were moved to other regions, and enrolled in ethics counselling.

What next for Geelong?

Paramedic junkies… cops selectively cleaning up what they choose to see.

Our whole council found itself sacked just last year.

I think I might stop reading the news for a bit to enjoy the ignorance for a while.

You’re better than this Geelong, and one day I hope to again believe it.