Imagine jetting off to the other side of the world, living out of a bag in a fellow-countryman’s home until you find your feet, to getting married and flying in emergency medical response helicopters for a living… all within the space of two years.
That has been Armagh man, Gilbert Rice’s incredible journey.
Gilbert made the decision to swap Armagh for Australia’s epic Gold Coast on March 15, 2023.
He left with his fiancé, Erik and just 12 days later the loved-up pair were wedded on the subtropical sands of Moreton Island.
The trip to Oz wasn’t entirely left-field for Gilbert. He had previously spent a year in Brisbane back in 2015 and some of his close friends were still living there in 2021, alongside two of his first cousins.
He had just finished his training as an Emergency Medicine Consultant working out of Daisy Hill and Craigavon Area Hospital back home and knew he wanted to get “more critical care experience”… and to one day work for the Air Ambulance service (NI HEMS) at home .
Before he and Erik left the Orchard county, he had managed to secure work as a Critical Care and Education Fellow at Gold Coast University Hospital – which Gilbert explains is “the busiest ED in Australia”.
Gilbert and Erik
And, while it may seem as though he had all in order for the move, Gilbert later discovered that finding accommodation would be the hard part.
Speaking to Armagh I, he described their early days in Oz: “Accommodation was difficult to secure as Australia is in a rental crisis at the moment.
“We were lucky to stay with a fellow Armagh man, Paul Fegan, for four weeks whom my cousin also lived with until we secured an apartment.
“Starting out is difficult because you’re living out of a bag for the first few weeks and starting completely from scratch; buying cars and furniture etc.”
They did, however, make it out on their own – and soon – Gilbert was able to gain experience that would give him a great foot-up in pursing his dream.
While working at Gold Coast Hospital Emergency Department, Gilbert had joined an old university friend who had previously worked for LifeFlight – Australia’s aeromedical care and support service.
Knowing this experience would feed into his dream of working for Northern Ireland’s Air Ambulance, Gilbert patiently waited for applications to open.
His patience paid off! His application was successful and for the last six months Gilbert has been working with LifeFlight to “respond by helicopter, airplane or road to both emergencies in South East Queensland, as well as, transferring critical care patients to tertiary hospitals for specialist treatment”.
In the next three months he will be working in the vast Australian outback, just to get a “different experience,” he says.
Living every moment to the fullest, Gilbert and Erik have been thoroughly enjoying their time in Oz… both in and out of work.
Of their highlights throughout the experience, Gilbert said: “When living in Gold Coast being woke up by the sunrise over the beach.
“The hiking and the beaches are like paradise. We frequently find ourselves hiking through rainforests and waterfalls. Though we’ve had our run-ins with snakes and leaches!”
Paradise it may be, but there are – of course – a few things he misses from home too. He said: “Definitely family and friend and my dog, Dobby!
“With the time difference it can be hard to coordinate phone calls and no matter where you travel… there’s just something different about the friendly nature of people back home. I miss dropping into friends or family unannounced.
Working with LifeFlight
“We definitely miss ‘Irish Chinese’ and Bagel Bean as well! A lot of the food is just different to home from the sausages and bacon to the diluted juice – which I get shipped out!”
The couple were home for a brief visit last year to celebrate Armagh GAA’s All-Ireland win and even managed to squeeze in Christmas with Erik’s family in Brazil.
But, it won’t be long before he and Erik are able to cut the diluted juice shipping fees as the pair now have plans in place to return to Armagh permanently in November where Gilbert will take up employment in the local emergency departments.
Their advice to anyone thinking of moving to sunnier climes: “For us it was scratching an itch! If the itch is there give it a go!
“It confirmed for us that we want to settle in Armagh! The lifestyle is amazing here but it’s the day to day home things that we miss!
“I’ve been out here when I was 25 and then 35… the longer you leave it the more settled you are at home. It was definitely easier settling here at 25 than 35.
“Research where you’re going. The pay is higher in Australia but everything is expensive! There is money to be made out here but you have to go very remote.”
