Pride Of Australia

In 2010, Victoria was rocked by the tragic deaths of several young athletes and officials at sporting venues. Among them was Stephen Buckman, a much loved 19 year old footballer with his whole life ahead of him, who collapsed and died from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) while attending training at Rupertswood Football Club. In the wake of Stephen's death, his mum, Sue Buckman and experienced Victorian MICA paramedic, Andrew White - who tragically worked on the youngster - founded Defib for Life. Andrew and Sue took this heart-breaking tragedy and used it to fuel their mission to minimise tragic and unnecessary deaths and drastically improve the chances of survival for people like Stephen by advocating for defibulators to be imperative. Defib for Life started as a movement focused on sporting clubs but grew in order to encourage every sporting club, workplace, school and public space to install a life-saving defibrillator. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Selfless Sue puts her heart into saving lives

In 2010, Sue Buckman’s son Stephen, 19, collapsed while at footy training and never recovered. Now Sue is on a mission to distribute defibrillators to schools, sporting clubs and community groups.

Winchelsea lifeguard Trevor Mildenhall is lucky to be alive after suffering a heart attack while at a Life Saving Victoria training day.

Pride of Australia

How lifeguard’s mates saved his life

When Winchelsea lifeguard Trevor Mildenhall had a heart attack, he was lucky enough to have eight fellow lifeguards at hand to keep him alive until paramedics arrived.

Toni Carroll marrying Jesse Welsh at the Alfred Hospital. Toni has cancer and a severe heart problem needing her to be on an artificial heart machine.Picture: Jay Town

Pride of Australia

Alfred Hospital staff throw the wedding of the year

They gave a critically ill woman the wedding of her dreams, and now the team behind the heartwarming hospital ward wedding have been nominated for a Pride of Australia award.

Pride of Australia

How Rob’s dogged determination made a difference

ESTA police dispatcher Rob Barton has been the calming voice at the end of the line for many years. But his reaction to a different crisis has seen him nominated for a Pride of Australia award.