Tweed NRMA Patrol takes out top honours

17 October 2019
Heath Breakspear_patrol award
Heath Breakspear_ patrol awards mobile
Heath Breakspear 

Tweed Heads NRMA Patrol Heath Breakspear has been named NRMA Patrol of the Year for Northern NSW.

For 12 years Heath has been helping keep NRMA Members moving along the coast, replacing flat batteries, changing tyres, rescuing children and pets from locked cars and solving mechanical mysteries.

In the past year alone he has helped 3,782 Members, while also fulfilling duties as a team leader for fellow patrols in the region.

Testimonial / quotemark
It’s the best office in the world, it’s trying sometimes but it’s really rewarding and really worth it."
Patrol Heath Breakspear

There is no typical day in the ‘office’ of Heath’s NRMA Roadside Assist vehicle. One constant, however, is his love for what he does.

“It’s a pretty amazing job, I get to drive around the beaches helping people and making them happy, I could never go back to a workshop,” Mr Breakspear said.

“It’s the best office in the world, it’s trying sometimes but it’s really rewarding and really worth it.”

Summer traffic keeps Heath particularly busy, with tourists and locals needing assistance.

“A lot of people don’t get their caravans checked before the holidays and then run into troubles with flat batteries and old tyres once they hit the coast, which isn’t much fun on a holiday. Kids in caravan parks use the family car like a power point too, charging their tablets and devices, so the batteries run flat pretty quickly.”

The North Coast heat also means Heath is often the first to arrive when cars are accidentally locked with precious cargo inside.

“We do respond to a lock of locks outs where people accidentally lock kids and pets in their car, it’s so important we get those cars open again safely and quickly because the temperature inside the vehicles can increase very, very rapidly.”

Heath was taken by surprise when his manager of nearly a decade, Craig Cameron, presented him with the award.

“I was ecstatic, it means a lot to me because I do try hard to help everyone,” Mr Breakspear said.

Upon presentation, Mr Cameron said Heath’s commitment to Members had not gone unnoticed.

“To have helped more than 3,700 Members in one year is remarkable!” Mr Cameron said.

“Heath represents everything an NRMA patrol should – empathy, reliability and integrity, blue blood through and through. We are so lucky to have him wearing the NRMA brand.”

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