Advocate’s death prompts lifesaving device in remote Australia
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Family and friends honoured disability advocate Ellen Fraser-Barbour by unveiling an automated external defibrillator (AED) and plaque at Ellery Creek Big Hole in the Northern Territory, Australia, five months after she drowned there in April.
Susie Fraser, Dr Fraser-Barbour’s mother, expressed gratitude to St John Ambulance service for installing the potentially life-saving device in the remote location, 80 kilometres west of Alice Springs.
First responders explained that providing emergency healthcare in remote Central Australia presents challenges, as the nearest aeromedical or road ambulance response can take around an hour. William Sears of Alice Springs Ambulance Station noted that Dr Fraser-Barbour’s family supported the gesture as a way to commemorate her work and find closure after her death.
Abbey Studley, regional manager for St John Ambulance Northern Territory, said the commemoration offered an opportunity for first responders to grieve and align with Dr Fraser-Barbour’s belief in equal rights. Dr Fraser-Barbour’s sister, Harriet, described her as a passionate advocate who deeply impacted her family and community, leaving a significant void with her passing at age 35.
