Top chef turned ambo credits Kiwi broadband company for support of front line workers

Giving up a 12-year career as a chef for a job in emergency services may seem like an unusual change in vocation, but for Shane Williams it was an easy choice to make.

From working in top food establishments in Auckland and Melbourne, including a Michelin awarded restaurant, to saving lives of Kiwis daily, for the father of two the change in career all started from taking first aid courses at work.

“First aid ignited my desire to give back to the community. This is now a career that I love, and I get the opportunity to be involved with a great group of people and experience some amazing things.”

Shane has now been a front line ambo for the past 17 years, aiding countless New Zealanders in a number of emergencies.

From performing CPR to delivering a baby, Shane says anything can happen on the job – often challenging, but also rewarding.

“The most memorable job I attended was meeting an old World War II veteran who served and knew my grandfather. So, it was amazing hearing some of the things he did.”

“I also had the opportunity to meet Sir Edmund Hillary while on the job. He was an amazing man – so friendly and humble. You never know who you will meet.”

The road to becoming a front line ambo wasn’t an easy one for Shane, who had to juggle part-time study with work and a newborn baby.

“My son was born during the time I was studying, so I was managing that along with intensive study, which usually meant every moment between jobs was spent in a study room catching up so I could spend time with my family when I got home. Luckily, I have a very understanding wife.”

Shane says being a front line ambo means working long hours away from family, but a new charitable broadband provider could help make things easier.

YelloHalo, which launched recently, will be donating 100% of profits to front line ambulance workers with an audacious goal to return $1 million to more than 1100 front line ambos in year one.

It’s an initiative that Shane says couldn’t come at a better time.

“With Christmas coming up, we often miss time with family. I’ve had to miss spending Christmas day with my family, as well as birthdays and kids sports. It wasn’t till my daughter was five, and my son was two that I was able to spend Christmas day with them.”

“Because ambos are very passionate about their jobs, we put the job before many other things. The support that YelloHalo could provide would be fantastic. It means we can spend quality time with our family without the financial worry that holidays bring.”