Shoalhaven residents are invited to celebrate the 10 years since Sussex Inlet’s ambulance station was built.

On November 1 from 11am to 2pm the ambulance station is holding an open day.

Rescue vehicles and other equipment will be on display. The ambulance helicopter is expected to land at 11am. 

“People can come in for a look around,” Mr Donald said.

“We are hoping to put on some demonstrations so people might even get some hands-on experience.

“The local men’s shed will be cooking lunch and there will be a birthday cake too,” he said.

Mr Donald worked as an ambulance paramedic for 16 years in Sydney before making a sea change to Sussex Inlet.

He said the closeness of a small community offered more connection with the people he cared for in the job.

“In a town this size we get to know our patients a bit. 

“We are a presence in a small town. People see us down the street and let us know how they went after we treated them.

“You don’t get that in Sydney.”

Sussex Inlet is east of one of the most notorious sections of the Princes Highway. Mr Donald has attended some horrific collisions in the past decade.

He said the improvements at the Sussex Inlet Road as well as the Island Point Road intersections with the highway had made a notable difference to the number of major collisions they attend.

“We certainly did our fair share at those intersections,” he said.

“The other aspect to our work that has been improved in the past 10 years is the backup we get from the ambulance helicopter out of Albion Park, and backup from our neighbouring stations,” he said.