Ambulance Active Spring 2011Published By Countrywide Austral

cover story
To follow Jamie Jackway’s progress and to donate to the Australian
National Paramedic Support Foundation please visit www.jja2012im.com
Jamie Jackway is a QAS Rescue helicopter paramedic.
In 2009, while on a rescue mission, Jamie was involved in a
tragic helicopter accident. After 12 months in hospital, and
another year of continued rehabilitation at home, Jamie and
wife Melinee have been overwhelmed by the rally of support
from co-workers and friends. But, facing life as a quadriplegic,
the challenges for this father of three, are not yet over.
Aaron Harper, Intensive Care Paramedic
Jamie Jackway, Thursday Island, June 2009.
This is the story of an
inspirational workmate and friend. To the
many Queensland colleagues who know
of, or have had the pleasure of meeting,
Jamie Jackway, everyone would agree he
is someone you cannot forget.
Jamie was born and raised in
Townsville and joined the Queensland
Ambulance Service (QAS) in 2003, based at
Townsville Station as a student paramedic.
Jamie already came with a high level
of training and professionalism after
spending seven years as a Medic (Medical
Corps) in the Australian Army. It was no
surprise, given his friendly and outgoing
nature that he fitted in well with his peers
at Townsville Station. He was affectionately
known as the Gentle Giant and the only
real concern was whether he would
actually fit into the ambulance. Standing
tall, at 6ft 7inches, that was always going to
be a challenge.
Jamie came from a sporting background
playing State League Basketball and
volleyball. Admittedly, his height was
always an advantage. He also played A
Grade Rugby Union and League.
In 1998, Jamie married Melinee and
the couple are parents to three children
- Noelani, aged 13, Kavakore, nine, and
Tichalla is six years. Amazingly, but not
surprisingly given the type of fellow he is,
Jamie and Melinee also have fulltime care
of 11 year old nephew Jeremiah.
After qualifying as an Advanced Care
Paramedic in 2006, Jamie’s wish was to
transfer to Thursday Island, located in the
Torres Strait, and was ultimately successful –
transferring to QAS Thursday Island Station
in April 2009. Part of Jamie’s job role was to
perform flight paramedic duties on a certain
number of shifts each fortnight. On average,
each rostered day on the helicopter resulted
in at least two patient retrievals around the
Torres Strait. Jamie estimates he would have
done approximately 60 retrievals during his
time on the island.
On 9 November 2009, Jamie had his first
operational winch. The crew, flying a Bell 412
helicopter, were tasked to retrieve a cardiac
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