COAST PARAMEDIC A HERO OF QUAKE
A TUGUN paramedic has been recognised for giving up her holiday to volunteer in Lombok following last year’s earthquake.
Kahla Mawby cut her Uluwatu trip short after hearing the news that Indonesia’s Lombok had suffered a 7.2 magnitude earthquake last August.
Now a nominee for a QBANK’s Everyday Heroes Award, the 24 year old said she never gave volunteering a second thought.
“I felt so close to this natural disaster and I wanted to help in any way I could,” Ms Mawby said.
With the airport shut and seas too rough, she took to social media to find a way she could help.
“I found the CEO of an Indonesian-based non-profit organisation on Facebook, sent him a private message and soon after I was in the thick of it,” she said.
The company had been donated a helicopter where Ms Mawby joined a small team of volunteer relief workers.
“Initially I was the only medical practitioner and with help from a translator I assessed many people including children, pregnant woman and the elderly,” she said.
Many lives were saved by Ms Mawby and her team who tended to fractures and open wounds potentially susceptible to fatal infections.
The team distributed as much food, water and resources they could offer to the many people in need.
Ms Mawby has been recognised under the “dedication” category of QBANK’s Everyday Heroes Awards.
Other categories include Achievement, Ownership, Working Together, Excellence and the Young Everyday Hero Award.
The winner of the award will receive $1000 prize money as well as a $1000 cheque donated to a charity of their choice.
This is the sixth year QBANK has hosted the flagship event.