A seven-year-old boy from Casino who helped save his mother’s life has been recognised alongside veteran paramedics and aircrew officers at a ceremony in Ballina celebrating courage and decades of service.

In February, Elijah Phillips calmly dialled Triple Zero when his mum Tahnikha suffered a seizure. Using a picture he’d drawn of his house and kept in his “emergency box,” Elijah was able to tell call takers his street name and house number  – ensuring paramedics reached his home quickly.

Elijah attended the ceremony with his family, where he was presented with a certificate and a care bear by NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan.

His younger brother –  who was also home during the emergency and spoke to paramedics  – joined him for the presentation (photo above).

Trailblazers and Lifesavers

Inspector Terrence (Terry) Savage, one of NSW Ambulance’s earliest critical care paramedics, was recognised with the Commissioner’s Meritorious Service Medal.

Over 44 years, he has pioneered aeromedical and intensive care programs, supported colleagues as a peer support officer, and led welfare efforts during the 2022 Northern Rivers floods.

Commissioner Morgan described him as a “trailblazer whose extraordinary experience has been a gift to this community”.

Aircrew officers Jimmy Keogh and Jethro Lampe also received the Commissioner’s Unit Citation for Service.

They were part of the dangerous 2022 flood rescue at Main Arm, near Mullumbimby, where a mother and son were trapped after their house was torn from its foundations.

Working in fading light and near live powerlines, the team successfully winched the pair to safety.

Commissioner Morgan praised their “exceptional teamwork and operational focus under conditions that could easily have ended in tragedy.”

Leadership in Crisis

Critical Care Paramedic William Brand was awarded the National Medal and recognised for his leadership during Tropical Cyclone Alfred earlier this year.

Brand also played a pivotal role in the 2022 flood response, leading emergency operations, coordinating the temporary relocation of the Lismore helicopter base to Ballina, and ensuring critical care services continued during the crisis.

Commissioner’s Message

Commissioner Morgan said more than 25 Northern NSW staff and volunteers were honoured on the day, from frontline paramedics to control centre staff.

“Whether in daily emergencies or once-in-a-generation disasters, these officers have shown courage, leadership and compassion,” he said.

“Recognition is sometimes hard for paramedics to accept, because they see it as just doing their job – but the community should know how much we owe them.”

He also acknowledged ongoing pressure on the service, including hospital ramping and winter demand from flu, RSV and COVID, but said new recruits were joining regional teams to help build “more sustainable models” for the future.

Recognition Across the State

The Ballina ceremony was the third of four recognition events held across NSW this year, following Dubbo and Newcastle, with a final event scheduled for Sydney in December.