A community campaign, led by the town’s Lions Club, has so far failed to evoke action from the state government, despite the town’s former local MP Peter Walsh calling for a service to be based in Wedderburn while in opposition in 2010.

The town is currently serviced by a group of trained volunteers who act as initial respondents to emergencies before an ambulance arrives from another town.

But locals say the community emergency response team (CERT) is under the pump, responding to many more calls each month than was intended when it was established in 2005.

Loddon Shire Mayor Gavan Holt said the lack of an ambulance service was one of several health service issues crippling the town.

“The fact is Wedderburn does not have a hospital – it was closed in what was really a disgraceful decision in 1990,” said Cr Holt, a Wedderburn resident.

“We have no hospital, no ambulance service, no resident doctor and no aged care facility.

“There are no towns around this region this size with that lack of health services.”

With Wedderburn transferring to the Ripon electorate after a shake-up of electoral boundaries, Cr Holt said the council had spoken to all four candidates at the November 29 electorate about health services.

The mayor praised the work of the CERT but said the small number of volunteers were stressed by the workload.

“If you are in an emergency situation in Wedderburn you are in a fair bit of strife, especially at weekends,” Cr Holt said.

“I don’t think Wedderburn has had very fair treatment (from governments) over the years.”

Under current arrangements, in times of emergency patients must wait for an ambulance to arrive from either Charlton or Inglewood, each 30 kilometres away.

Pensioner Wally Meddings said the town had been crying out for an ambulance service for 20 years.

He accused Mr Walsh, a Coalition government cabinet minister, of failing to follow-up on his call for a Wedderburn ambulance service.

“In my experience, they (ambulances) arrive fairly prompt, within 15 to 20 minutes of the CERT team who do a very good job,” Mr Meddings said.

“But we have had some heart attacks in the main street and people have died.

“With the ageing population it’s appropriate we have an ambulance service.”

Mr Meddings the situation was graver when considering about 120 of the town’s total of 340 houses were single occupant houses.