ASMI Goes Down Under!!
Early this May I found myself
in the bush chasing mobs of kangaroo in a white station wagon
that my friend Oz called
his “tractor”.
What led up to this experience you ask?
One year ago, Australian Motorcyclist Phil Lemin was in the USA
for 6 weeks on vacation. He stumbled upon a popular American Rally
at Lake George, NY called Americade. He stopped in his tracks when
he walked past a stage where Accident Scene Management, Inc. instructors
Gail and David Riley were doing a presentation on ASMI. As a Paramedic
the topic was of interest to him and the more he listened the more
he realized that ASMI was needed in Australia as well! Phil returned
to the states in October to complete instructor training. He returned
to Australia and worked on making connections and setting up a nonprofit.
ASMI materials needed to be converted with pictures of people riding
on the wrong side of the road substituted, etc.
Finally the time came that my friend and ASMI
instructor Cat Hammes and I were flown to Melbourne to officially
kick off ASMA. We taught
additional instructors and spoke with press as well as others who
are key to moving the program forward. They were so excited to know
that there is a program out there that has been successful and is
motorcycle trauma specific! Currently there are many people in Australia
taking a CPR/1st Aid class with helmet removal called “Motorcycle
Trauma First Aid”. It is taught by non-motorcyclists. They
were like sponges soaking up the information and were excited to
know that this training could make such a difference in Australia’s
motorcycle safety efforts geared toward reducing injuries and fatalities.
The Australian Govt has approved funds to examine helmet removal
techniques so Phil is now working with them using what we have learned
so far here in the states about one person removal.
So people keep asking “what is it like in Australia”?
Well the best word I have for it is “charming”! It’s
a lot like the USA with these exceptions:
Everything is opposite: seasons, time, north is our south, etc…..
They drive on the wrong side of the road which leads to a feeling
that you are doing something terribly wrong (I loved it)!
They eat some funny things like Fairy Floss and Vegemite
They speak English but say funny things like “No Drama” (AKA
No problem), You must be Buggered (Tired), He was Crook (Ill),
Not only can Aborignies play a Digery Do but I met one man who could
make Digery Do Rap music!
So what was my favorite thing? The people of
course! While we were fortunate to be given motorcycles to ride
by Harley Davidson we didn’t
get a lot of time to ride them. We did, however, connect with a number
of the people who rode motorcycles and a number of them were women.
Women who found themselves empowered by riding! With only 3% of women
riding in Australia it took me back in time to 24 years ago when
I got my first bike. Women are just starting to feel like the movement
to ride is picking up. The first night we were there we heard about
a Women’s Ride and we joined the group which included a guy
dressed in pink. The following weekend we coordinated a very cold
and wet ride for “Harley’s Women around the Globe”.
Brett Lemin arranged a route that took us on some beautiful twisty
roads to St. Andrews Pub. Many of the people we met that first night
and at classes we taught came along and we have been communicating
via Facebook since!
People have also asked if I’d go back and my answer is a resounding
YES!!!! Now that I have experience I’d try to go when the weather
is nicer and now that I have Australian friends I’d insist
on another group ride. They know too that we will reciprocate as
hosts for them if they come to the states. Friends around the world,
ASMI training and a new riding experience – what could be better?
Click a photo for a larger
view.
