The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys are recognising the invaluable contribution of emergency services personnel and volunteers at Saturday's Cowboys v Bulldogs home game – we're proud to profile some of these dedicated individuals on cowboys.com.au.
Cowboys elite pathways coach and club life member Aaron Payne will have a greater reason to honour our emergency heroes of the North this weekend, personally celebrating the contributions of his sister and Queensland Ambulance Officer, Amie.
Many current and former Cowboys players have a strong affinity with this week's game-day message, with Payne noting the pride he has in his big sister’s work.
“We’re very proud of what she does … they’ve all got a very important role in our community, not just the ambulance officers but also the other legends of the North,” Payne said.
“She’s our eldest sibling so in that regard we’ve always looked up to her ... it’s something that our entire family are proud of.”
While acknowledging that rugby league players have a physically demanding and intense role on the field, Payne was quick to turn the light on his sister’s work as literally being about ‘life and death’.
“When I was playing, and even now while I’m coaching, I get to come home to my family and it’s only a game, but some of the stuff that Amie deals with is much more serious than that – it can be life and death … I guess that’s when it hits home, how important her job is compared to mine.”.
Amie joined the Queensland Ambulance Service over seven years ago, and says the most rewarding part of her job is being able to help those who need it most.
“I guess it sounds corny and everyone says it but being able to help people is probably the most rewarding part,” Amie said.
The best job I ever did was when I got to deliver a baby … those jobs are definitely more fun and exciting than other jobs that you go to, and they’re really rewarding and put you on a high for a week afterwards.
With such close ties to the Cowboys family, Amie is thrilled that the club is supporting her fellow first responders.
“I think that it’s really great that the Cowboys get behind it, and everyone in the community get behind us in general. It’s really rewarding and great to have that support.”
