A FRANKSTON paramedic is ready to call time on his career after 50 years of saving lives. Kevin Cooper marked 50 years of service earlier this month. He began working in 1975 with the Peninsula Ambulance Service in Frankston as a 17-year-old cadet, and graduated as a qualified ambulance officer in December 1977.
During Cooper’s five decades on the job he attended the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires and the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, he delivered 15 babies, and he worked flying the “Angel of Mercy” helicopter ambulance based at Tyabb Airfield.
In the last few years, Cooper has been working to introduce the life-saving drug Solu-Cortef to ambulances. He said “after completing worldwide research, I wrote the first draft of the Adrenal Insufficiency Clinical Practice Guidelines. I was thrilled when Solu-Cortef was introduced to ambulances across Victoria in January 2023.”
“Shortly after, my partner Brett Williams and I were able to save the life of a young mother of triplets who was in adrenal crisis using this new drug. It was a great feeling,” Williams said. “Sometimes, with the stress of being a paramedic, you wonder why you come to work. But delivering a baby or bringing someone back from the edge reminds you why you love this job.”
Cooper is now on long service leave ahead of his planned retirement in August. He said he is enjoying spending time walking his dog at Frankston Pier during his time off. “It’s a strange but good feeling to step away from such a busy routine. After decades of working in a fast-paced environment, it’s nice to slow down and enjoy more of life’s quieter moments with family,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria Mount Martha acting team manager Suzanne Constantinou said Cooper had made a “remarkable impact”. “Kevin has been directly involved in shaping Ambulance Victoria and healthcare, and it’s been a privilege to work alongside him. His career highlights are a true testament to his dedication and commitment to serving those most vulnerable in our community,” she said.
First published in the Frankston Times – 28 January 2025