Ilse Simonsen celebrates 1000 trauma teddies at Sarina ambulance station
Each bear has a special spot in the back of the ambulance, ready to bring a smile to those needing some cheer in bewildering, high stress situations.
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Ilse Simonsen gives a simple explanation when asked why she spends so much of her life knitting together trauma teddy bears for Sarina’s paramedics.
“I like the ambos, that’s about it,” she said.
The 70-year-old Ooralea resident has stitched together 1000 bears, spending three to four hours on each one.
The paramedics take the teddies with them on jobs and give them to children and patients to bring some comfort in bewildering, high-stress moments.
Paramedic David Baker has seen first hand the warmth they bring to kids.
“It gives them a joy and a big smile,” he said.
“A free toy for the little ones always brings them joy.
“They hold onto it and don’t let go.”
The teddies are not just for kids.
Paramedic Ashleigh Turner said she had offered them to 20-year-old men and paramedic Jemma Hyatt-Jacobsen said she had given bears to dementia patients.
“It makes it a little less scary,” she said.
Paramedic Danny Cashel said there was a special spot in the back of the ambulance for the bears, with a few sitting in there and then restocked at the end of a shift.
Paramedic and artist Maddy Hogan has painted a picture to commemorate Mrs Simonsen’s charitable milestone.
“I was trying to show the happiness and colour the teddy bears bring both to us and the patients,” she said.
“Because we enjoy giving them out.”
Mrs Simonsen’s husband Trevor stood by proudly at the station.
“I think it’s a wonderful day,” he said.
“She likes making teddies for the ambos.”
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