GREENVILLE – Spirit EMS held a swearing-in and pinning ceremony for Australian Will Gardam, who was promoted to Captain at Spirit EMS. In his new role, Gardam will serve as the immediate supervisor of field crews.
“We are here today to witness a significant moment in the life of our service as we welcome in a new Captain,” said Brian Hathaway, Spirit EMS President. “This role not only requires skill and dedication but also compassion and leadership.”
“It’s an honor, and I am humbled,” said Gardam. “It’s an amazing thing to have everyone here supporting me. To be promoted in this manner is amazing.”
“To come all the way from Australia and don’t know what you’re coming into and expecting and to be met with an extremely supportive group, they are there to mentor you and help you succeed is amazing. Not only that, but their compassion towards the community is something I am a very big believer in.”
Gardam is the first Australian to achieve the promotion since Spirit EMS launched its Paramedic Visa program this past November, addressing the company’s paramedic workforce shortage.
Gardam’s parents, Wayne and Megan Gardam, traveled from Australia to attend the ceremony and take part in the Great Darke County Fair. Will’s father, a flight paramedic in Australia, noted what took Will six months to accomplish in the U.S. took him over ten years to achieve.
“I have 25 years of experience back in Australia,” said Wayne. “It was never something I pushed Will into pursuing at home. Watching the transition from home to here and all the people he has been surrounded with has been amazing. The experience he has been getting here has been amazing. The skillset he is exposed to here is fantastic; it’s world-class and far exceeds what he would be doing in Australia. As parents, we couldn’t ask for a better experience.”
“Will loves it here, and as a community, he’s happy and filled with joy,” Megan stated. “As a mom, that is all I can ask for.”
Gardam’s father had the honor of pinning the Captain bars onto Will’s new uniform shirt during the ceremony.
Will, 22, is from Rowville, a suburb about 30-40 minutes southeast of Melbourne, Australia.
“The difference is night and day between there and here,” Will noted. “Rowville has a population of around 70,000 people whereas Greenville is on the other side, which has 12-13,000 people. It’s a different experience coming over here, but I’ve been met with lovely, welcoming people who have greeted me with open arms to guide me through everything.”
In closing remarks, Will’s father said he is “very proud” of his son.
