NSW Ambulance Paramedic Stephen Pollard… “It’s often been said that you’ve never had a perfect day until you’ve done something for someone that they can never repay you for.
A quick offer of help to a friend resulted in 50 years of service for veteran paramedic Stephen Pollard.
The almost 73-year-old has worked in paramedicine for 50 years and was a familiar, friendly face for several people. Now, Stephan has hung up his uniform after ending 50 years of service alongside his son, Inspector Ian Pollard, in their hometown of Young.
Despite Stephen’s unending commitment and perseverance in the field, entering paramedicine was entirely accidental.
“It was not something I set my mind to,” he says.
“I was working as bar staff, and it wasn’t something I was terribly happy with.”
After closing the bar one night, Stephen found himself near an ambulance where a car and a motorbike had collided. The ambulance officer on site was a friend of his, and a quick offer of help for a friend in need would change Stephen’s career trajectory forever.
“I gave him a hand with the patient, and after we put a splint on his broken leg and set up the drip, I was asked about what I was doing for the next half hour,” Stephen says.
Stephen’s friend had been alone that night and had asked him to drive the ambulance back to the hospital so that he could sit in the back with the patient.
Not enamoured with his job at the Bowning Bowling Club, Stephen says he put in a job application straight after the incident to be a paramedic, not quite expecting to be accepted right away.
“I’ve now reached 50 years with NSW Ambulance services,” he says.
“That’s just the way that it worked out, although it wasn’t something I ever planned on doing. I just loved it.”
Telling himself that his work in medicine was a temporary fix until “something better comes along”, Stephen completed his first aid certificate in April 1976, where he was then posted to Bowral.
“Being a paramedic was what made me want to become one,” he says.
“It’s a great occupation and a great calling to look after others in their hour of need.”
Stephen follows in his grandfather’s footsteps, a medic who served in the ambulance corps in New Guinea. Unfortunately, he passed away a few months before Stephen started.
Stephen’s son, Ian, is the only one of his children who has also taken up paramedicine and has worked alongside his father for more than 20 years.
Growing up, Stephen worked with his father as an apprentice baker from age 14. He says he never quite understood a father’s pride in seeing their son follow in their footsteps until he saw Ian at work.
“Working as an apprentice with my dad… I enjoyed it, but he enjoyed it even more,” he says.
“He was proud to see his eldest son following in his footsteps.
“When Ian wanted to follow in the same footsteps, I felt what my dad felt.”
Ian went straight into paramedicine at age 18, keenly following his father.
After finding himself alone on a job in Temora, Stephen was called to assist Ian, which was his first time seeing his son hard at work on the job.
“I had to back him up, and I could truly understand what my dad felt for the first time,” he says.
“I felt so proud to work with my son.
“Ian is doing a really good job.”
During his first few years, Stephen says he was primarily working with helicopters, and although he admits to being a little afraid of heights, he more often than not found himself dangling from a rope in the middle of a rescue mission.
Since then, his service to the community has taken him across NSW until he travelled to Young in 1995 for “a look”. Instantly falling in love, Stephen bought a piece of land near Wombat and built a house, which he has been living in ever since.
Promoted to the rank of inspector in 2007, Stephen held the role for 15 years before, in 2022, he looked back on his 46 years of service and dropped to part-time work, choosing to instead allocate time to spend with his wife and grandchildren.
Looking back, he says he saw the 50-year landmark goal ahead of him and continued on in the job he had fallen in love with.
“I thought, ‘yeah, I can hit 50 years,” he says. So he did.
Ian is now Acting Inspector, the role that Stephen had formerly held for 15 years.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have a really good career,” he says.
With several qualifications under his belt and years of lived experience, Stephen is one of NSW’s longest serving paramedics.
But what does the future hold for the 72-year-old?
“I have no real definite plans other than catching up on some sleep and not being tied to a roster,” he says.
“In the future, my wife and I might travel around Australia, perhaps to some of the islands.
“I’d also love to do the train trip from Sydney to Perth.”
Stepping away from medicine might be the hardest decision he says he’s ever made.
“I’m 72 going on 73, although my brain wants to do it, my body can’t, so it’s time to hand it over to the younger people doing a magnificent job,” he says.
Stephen’s career has seen several changes to the education system and students must now complete a three-year university degree before commencing, unlike his simple application 50 years ago.
The calibre of work, grit, knowledge and dedication arising from the next generation, Stephen says, is “magnificent”.
“They are great at what they do,” he says.
“The area is in magnificent hands with modern paramedics.”
A rewarding occupation to consider, Stephen acknowledges that it comes hand-in-hand with some very confronting situations.
“Sometimes we go to incidents where there is a poor outcome,” he says.
“But more incidents have good outcomes.
“You need to look at the occupation for what it is: an occupation which helps people on what can sometimes be the worst day of their life.
“We help them, support them and stabilise them.”
Stephen is now looking to enjoy his retirement and spend more quality time with his wife, their children and grandchildren.
Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, attended Stephen’s final day at work and praised him for his professional legacy and impact on the local community.
“Fifty years of service is just extraordinary, and Steve’s contribution is truly next level,” she says.
“Steve is deeply respected across the emergency services family and truly loved by the community in Young.
“Over the past eight and a half years, I have turned to Steve on many occasions for his advice and
counsel as we’ve worked to deliver better outcomes for paramedics across the electorate.
“Those outcomes simply would not have been possible without his experience, insight and unwavering commitment to the profession.”
Stephen says the best piece of advice he has ever received is to take a step back and look at the greater good.
“It’s often been said that you’ve never had a perfect day until you’ve done something for someone that they can never repay you for,” he says.
“I’m lucky to say Ambulance NSW has given me several.”
Stephen lives with his wife on their property near Wombat, NSW and sees his legacy and commitment to assisting the community during their darkest moments continued in his son, Ian.
Elizabeth Kovacs
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