‘Pilbara’s Guardian Angel’: Tributes flow for Sandfire’s Mick Lanagan after his death at 79

Tributes from across the Pilbara, WA, and beyond are pouring in for Mick Lanagan, known to many as the ‘Angel of the Highway,’ who has died at the age of 79.
For nearly 35 years at the Sandfire Roadhouse, along the Great Northern Highway between Port Hedland and Broome, Mick was a constant presence, familiar face, keeping the roadhouse running, fuel pumping and lending a hand to anyone in need.
But it was his selfless service volunteering with St John Ambulance and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, responding to and providing first aid at hundreds, if not thousands, of crashes along the remote highway, that earned him the title of the ‘Pilbara’s Guardian Angel’.
Family, friends, and members of the community are remembering Mick for his humble nature, generosity, and the kindness he shared with everyone he met, in addition to the countless lives he helped save.
Speaking to the North West Telegraph, his nephew Andrew Hebb said Mick was the greatest person anyone could ask to be related to, and, given his decades of selfless service, his loss has been felt deeply across WA.
“He made it his life mission to help others, family, friends, or people he didn’t even know. That’s just who he was,” Mr Hebb said.
“He didn’t do it for recognition. He did it because he wanted to save lives and make life better for people.”

The Sandfire Roadhouse is one of only three petrol stations located between Port Hedland and Broome, along the 610 kilometre stretch of the Great Northern Highway.
Much of Mick’s life before Sandfire was spent on cattle stations in far-north WA, working on horseback as a stockman.
Mr Hebb said that Mick had looked to settle down at the roadhouse, but life had other plans.
“He went there basically to semi-retire, and ended up working harder than ever. Once he saw the gap in emergency services, he just stepped in,” he said.
“For him to do what he did, just from his own physical capacity, his body broken from years of falling off horses and windmills, it’s a bit mind-blowing.”

Given the crucial support he provided to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, tributes have poured in from the service and its members across the region.
Rebecca Maddern, director of community relations at the Royal Flying Doctor Service, said Mick’s service had left a lasting impact on the RFDS community.
“Many RFDS crew members fondly remember Mick and the genuine impact he made as a volunteer over decades, often assisting with patient transfers in the middle of the night,” she said.
“Visitors to the Sandfire Roadhouse might also recall his generous fundraising efforts to support our service.
“Mick was one of many volunteer ambulance officers across regional WA who selflessly give their time to help people in their hour of need. He will be greatly missed.”
Other members of the RFDS community took to the Sandfire Roadhouse Facebook page to pay their respects.
“Many of us in RFDS called him ‘Dr Mick’, an absolute mainstay of the community. He helped many an injured or ill traveller with the RFDS Medical chest and his bush ambulance,” Dr Sally Edmonds said.
“Mick was a true legend and always helpful to RFDS crews when we landed to pick someone up. Forever indebted to Mick for his service. Sincere condolences to his loved ones. RIP Mick,” Myra Graham commented.
Close friend of Mick, Ken Norton from the Sandfire Roadhouse, described Mick as “The salt of the earth”.

Despite never seeking recognition for his service, Mick was honoured with The Sunday Times Pride of Australia medal for Heroism in 2014.
A memorial celebrating Mick’s life will be held at the Sandfire Roadhouse on Saturday, November 8, at 12pm, where his ashes will be released from an aircraft near the Sandfire airstrip, giving him his final flight.
A second memorial for those closer to Perth will be held in Mount Helena on Sunday, November 23, at 12pm.
For more information on the two memorials, head to the Sandfire Roadhouse Facebook page and RSVP via email to micklanaganperth@gmail.com
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