A veteran ambulance volunteer with an impressive service record has been stood down amid misconduct allegations, including a claim that he failed to arrange a vegan meal for a visiting staff member, prompting an angry response from the local community.
Pinnaroo residents in South Australia’s Murray Mallee have rallied behind station captain Robert Berlin, 70, after he was instructed to surrender his South Australian Ambulance Service uniform following nearly 50 years of service.
Posts circulating online claim Mr Berlin, who received the Ambulance Service Medal, was stood down last week over several alleged incidents, including the failure to provide a vegan meal option for a visiting staff member.
The other allegations reportedly involve frightening staff by repeatedly knocking loudly on the roller door at the Pinnaroo ambulance station, speaking aggressively to another emergency team during a critical patient incident and misusing SAAS facilities.
According to claims shared online, Mr Berlin was instructed to surrender his uniform, station keys and other SAAS property at the local police station within 24 hours of being stood down or risk facing theft charges.
As station captain, he oversaw 12 volunteers and helped maintain round-the-clock ambulance coverage for Pinnaroo and surrounding communities.
All of the SAAS volunteers based at Pinnaroo have since walked off the job in protest against Mr Berlin’s dismissal.
SAAS has had to transfer volunteers from a nearby town and deploy paid staff from metropolitan Adelaide stations to cover rostered shifts, raising concerns about the future of the local ambulance service.
Station captain Robert Berlin was ordered to surrender his SAAS uniform after almost five decades of service
The entire SAAS volunteer crew at Pinnaroo have walked off the job in protest against their captain’s dismissal
Community leaders are calling for an urgent investigation into the decision.
‘Rob is a pillar of the community,’ Southern Mallee mayor Ron Valentine told Our News Outlet.
‘He’s pretty stoic on the outside, but internally, no one knows how he’s feeling.’
‘He is robust when he sees something that is not right, but everything he does is of the utmost integrity.
‘The way it has been handled is completely unjust and an overreach of massive proportions.’
Pinnaroo SAAS volunteers have vowed to resume their duties once authorities commission an external investigation.
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‘Our greatest fear is for what happens next,’ Cr Valentine said.
‘SAAS needs to do the right thing and engage an independent investigator so the volunteers can get back to work.’
Community leaders have called on SAAS to launch an independent investigation into Mr Berlin’s dismissal
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Local MPs Jason Virgo and Tony Pasin echoed calls for an independent investigation.
‘It would only be appropriate to ensure it’s all above board and Rob gets a fair go,’ Mr Virgo said.
The SAAS declined to comment on confidential personnel matters but confirmed it was aware of concerns that had been raised publicly about ambulance services in Pinnaroo.
‘Many of the comments circulating online include inaccurate information and do not reflect the facts of the situation,’ the SAAS spokeswoman told Our News Outlet.
‘We are committed to ensuring any allegations are investigated fairly and in accordance with our rigorous policies and procedures.
‘These processes exist to ensure a safe environment for all staff and volunteers.
‘We can reassure the community we are strongly committed to providing Pinnaroo with ongoing ambulance services and upholding the highest standards for the benefit of the community,’ the spokeswoman added.
‘Over the past week, SAAS has also put arrangements in place to support local coverage while Pinnaroo volunteer availability has been reduced, including an additional volunteer from outside the area at the Pinnaroo station.’
Mr Berlin was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal in the 2019 Australia Day Honours.
‘Robert has been serving his community of Pinnaroo for more than 40 years and is a strong and passionate advocate for volunteers,’ SAAS said at the time.
Do you know more? Email kylie.stevens@dailymail.com.au.
