New service celebrates life

SCOTT Chapman’s inspiration to establish the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Memory Lane program struck in the early hours of the morning while he was visiting the USA.

The RFDS Victoria CEO was jetlagged and unable to sleep at 3am when he turned the TV on to a documentary about Rotterdam-based paramedic and founder of the Ambulance Wish Foundation, Kees Veldboer.

Mr Veldboer was transporting patients nearing the end of their life to their favourite locations for one last time, bringing them and their families a sense of joy during difficult times.

Now Memory Lane is providing that same opportunity to Victorians, and Bendigo was recently made one of only two sites for the program in the state.

“We’re trying to make people’s wishes or memories come to life at a very delicate time,” Mr Chapman said.

“It’s about dignity and recognition of people’s contribution to the world over their lifetime. We’re just trying to play a small part in that.”

While the RFDS has conducted similar journeys for patients before the official launch of the program earlier this year, Memory Lane is a dedicated, volunteer-run and donor-funded service.

“I do believe that if you’ve got capability and capacity to do something, then you’re honour bound to do it,” Mr Chapman said.

The two Memory Lane vehicles based in Bendigo and Essendon have been fitted out so they don’t resemble the interior of an ambulance, giving travellers a comfortable space for their trip.

RFDS patient transport officer and Memory Lane volunteer Ian McKenzie said the program meant people’s final memories can be made at their favourite and personally significant locations.

“Being involved with something like Memory Lane is one of the greatest shows of respect you can give to a person in their later days,” he said.

“When you see the family’s reaction to this person in their last moments being so happy or being fulfilled, that impact on the family lasts forever.”

Also a fulltime firefighter with Fire Rescue Victoria and supporter of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Mr McKenzie said volunteering with Memory Lane was one of the most humane things a person could do.

“Personally, I can honestly say I feel honoured to be involved with the program because the impact is just so enormous. I love it,” he said.