Tuesday, May 26, 2009

** Scholarship fundraiser held in honour of deceased Calgary military medic

** Australian medics in Victoria still awaiting news on strike action

CANADA NEWS

** Motorcyclists in Calgary participated in a fundraising poker run this past weekend to raise money for a SAIT paramedic scholarship fund for a medic killed in Afghanistan. That is the word from the Calgary Herald (Jamie Komarnicki/May 25) which said the Sunday event saw more than 150 bikers participate in memory of Cpl. Mike Starker. Starker, who was a founding member of the Veterans Motorcycle Club, died May 6, 2008 after the 15 Field Ambulance Unit he was with was ambushed. A Calgary paramedic in civilian life, he also rode a ’79 Harley.

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** It could be as much as two weeks yet before Victoria paramedics know if they will be hitting the picket lines. The Monash Journal (Michael Randall/May 25) quoted Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie as saying negotiations between the union and the government remain deadlocked. According to the newspaper, ballots for strike action were mailed to members last week. The main point of contention between the two sides involves the length of down time between shifts. Medics say a minimum 10 hour pause should be enforced. A government bean counter, meanwhile, said strike action was unnecessary and that further talks would likely resolve matters.