Latter-day Saint Paramedic Retiring after 40 Years of Service

Paramedic and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bill Walter has been serving the people of the Gosford area for the last 40 years. Channel 7 News recently came along for his final shift at the Hawkesbury River Emergency Service Station where he has spent the last four decades of his life.

Bill joined the NSW Ambulance Service in February 1978 and has been dedicated to helping his community members in many emergency situations. Son Jay followed in his father’s footsteps, also working with the NSW Ambulance Service for the past 17 years.

Despite working many long hours with the NSW Ambulance Service, Bill said he had always been devoted to his family and his callings at church. Bill and wife Karen have six children and 19 grandchildren which keeps them very busy.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a calling is where an individual has been entrusted or appointed to fill a position in the teaching or leadership of the church in their local area. For many members, volunteer church service often creates additional responsibilities that fall outside their regular commitments with work and family.

Though Bill did vital work in the community, he also dedicated himself to participating in church services and opportunities to serve his fellow man. He said, “As a shift worker you can still participate in the church just as effectively as members who are able to work regular business hours. When I served as a Bishop for 8 1/2 years I would make it a priority to not work on a Sunday dayshift. This allowed me to still attend church each week and to fulfil my calling by serving others.”