Photo by Michael Marston - Department of Emergency Services ...

Photo by Michael Marston 

Emergency is published monthly by the Queensland Department 

of Emergency Services Public Affairs and Communications Unit. 

Articles, photographs and feedback from emergency services 

personnel and volunteers are welcome. Editorial staff reserve 

the right to edit any contributions. 

Address: Emergency magazine 

Public Affairs and Communications Unit 

Department of Emergency Services 

GPO Box 1425 

Brisbane Qld 4001 

Editor: Michael Franks 

Phone: 07 3247 8320 

Email: editor@emergency.qld.gov.au 

Facsimile: 07 3247 8779 

Web: www.emergency.qld.gov.au/publications 

Editorial: Ben Creagh, Peter Rekers, Hayley Gillespie, 

Kathryn Ryan, Andrew Berkman, Sarah Oppenheim, 

Nicola Mitchell and Gemma Marks. 

Graphic Design: Alaine Neilson 

Cover: Queensland firefighters have faced a busy period 

recently with the on-set of bushfire season. 

Photo by Mark Cross.

Contents 7 

Funding to improve training, preparedness ................... 5 

Research uncovers dry slot phenomenon .................... 10 

Ambulance Week round-up ...........................................12 

Make up a serious business for Nicky ...........................14 

Time critical for envenomations ................................... 16 

Women in Uniform: Qld’s female firies ........................ 18 

New directive to streamline recruitment ......................26 

Indigenous PTO course a success ................................28 

Clinical Challenge ........................................................36 

Station Profile: Townsville ............................................ 37 

Queensland Police Credit Union Limited ABN 79 087 651 036 AFSL No. 241413 

www.emergency.qld.gov.au EMERGENCY October 2006 

11 

22 

24 

33

From the Minister 

After the recent State 

election I was absolutely 

delighted to again be 

appointed Minister for 

Emergency Services. 

It’s now more than a year 

since I was first appointed. 

In that time I have travelled 

around Queensland 

talking to thousands of our 

personnel, both paid and 

volunteer alike, and I am continually 

struck by their absolute dedication. 

This is very much a ‘people portfolio’, 

and looking after our people is 

something to which I am very 

much committed. 

I am pleased that one of the 

government’s key election 

commitments was an additional 

$52 million over five years to boost 

the capacity of our State Emergency 

Service and Rural Fire Service 

volunteers. 

This will enable greater access to 

training for volunteers, especially 

through our online campus facility. In 

addition this funding will be utilised 

to enhance our radio communications 

From the Director-General 

With the State Election 

now behind us, I would 

like to warmly welcome back 

Pat Purcell as the Minister 

for Emergency Services. 

I know Mr Purcell is strongly 

committed to making 

Queensland communities 

safer places to live and 

work, and I look forward to 

working closely with him as 

we progress the government’s 

community safety priorities. 

While the Department of Emergency 

Services is undoubtedly in a healthy 

position, we must remain focused 

on operational service delivery and 

enhancing our planning and 

preparedness for the wide range of 

contingencies we may face in future. 

We are very fortunate that the State 

Government’s election commitments 

have incorporated additional funding 

for key departmental initiatives (see 

story page 5). 

Our emergency services volunteers 

were beneficiaries with an additional 

$52 million over five years to boost 

the capacity of our State Emergency 

infrastructure to improve 

preparedness and 

response capability. 

It will also allow us to 

develop a volunteer 

information register that 

will detail the experience, 

deployments, training, 

skills and awards honours 

of all of our active emergency 

services volunteers. 

Over the next four years we will provide 

Surf Life Saving Queensland with $6.4 

million to support more surf patrols 

and rescue equipment, and provide 

$300,000 a year for the next four 

years to the Royal Life Saving Society 

to expand water safety programs 

across Queensland. 

In recent years we’ve seen increased 

levels of funding across all areas of the 

department as we continue our work 

to make Queensland a safer place. 

There’s still more to be done, and I’m 

glad that I have the opportunity to 

continue working with you all. 

Pat Purcell 

Service and Rural Fire Service 

volunteers through enhanced 

training, equipment 

and communications 

infrastructure. 

The funding will also 

provide a major boost to 

cyclone preparedness for 

the State’s at-risk 

communities, including 

the provision of emergency 

cyclone shelters in regional coastal 

centres and the hosting of a ‘Cyclone 

Summit’ to review the lessons learnt 

from Tropical Cyclone Larry. 

An additional $4.567 million over four 

years will be used to enhance our spatial 

information and mapping capability so 

that we can better predict impacts of a 

wide range of disasters and incidents. 

These initiatives, together with funding 

to support our marine rescue volunteers; 

provide meningococcal antibiotics in all 

ambulances; and other key capital works 

initiatives, will give the department a 

strong foundation to further enhance our 

world-class emergency services delivery. 

Fiona McKersie 

EMERGENCY October 2006 www.emergency.qld.gov.au

Funding to improve 

training, preparedness 

The Queensland Government 

has announced a range of 

new policy initiatives that will 

guide the delivery of emergency 

services over the next five years 

and are focused on safeguarding 

our communities. 

Emergency Services Minister 

Pat Purcell said the new policy 

initiatives included funding 

for enhanced training for 

volunteers, improving cyclone 

preparedness, capital works and 

a new meningococcal initiative. 

“In recognition of the 

accelerating impacts of climate 

change, the department will 

strengthen and undertake new 

initiatives to help safeguard 

communities in coastal 

Queensland from the impact of 

cyclones,” the Minister said. 

“We will work with emergency 

services personnel, local 

councils and communities 

to enhance their capacity to 

respond to events such as 

cyclones and storm surges. 

“The government will also 

hold a one-day Safeguarding 

Cyclone Communities Summit in 

December to review the lessons 

learnt from Tropical Cyclone Larry 

and consolidate planning for 

the 2007 cyclone season.” 

Safeguarding 

communities 

A $52 million funding package 

will be delivered over five 

years to boost equipment, 

training and communications 

infrastructure for emergency 

services volunteers. 

An additional $4.567 million 

will be spent over four years 

to develop spatial information 

and mapping systems which 

will enable more accurate 

predictions of storm 

surge impacts. 

The department will also work 

closely with local government 

and with the Department of 

Public Works to develop and 

equip suitable cyclone and 

evacuation shelters in major 

Queensland regional 

coastal centres. 

Supporting marine 

volunteers 

$10 million will be spent over 

four years on a beach and 

marine safety program. 

This includes $6.4 million for 

Surf Life Saving Queensland for 

additional beach patrols and 

equipment; $1.2 million for the Royal 

Life Saving Society of Queensland for 

water safety education campaigns; 

and $1.9 million to the Volunteer 

Marine Rescue Association of 

Queensland and the Australian 

Volunteer Coast Guard for 

vessel replacement. 

Meningococcal 

initiative 

$1.45 million will be spent to 

ensure every Queensland 

Ambulance crew is trained to 

recognise the symptoms of 

meningococcal disease and to 

stock the antibiotic drug to combat 

the disease in all ambulances 

across the State. 

Emergency Services Director-General 

Fiona McKersie said the funding 

commitments particularly recognised 

the need to enhance the safety of 

vulnerable communities and to 

improve the training and equipment 

for State Emergency Service and 

Rural Fire Service volunteers. 

“It is the most significant additional 

investment in training and equipment 

for volunteers in our department’s 

history and will enhance our 

volunteers’ safety, preparedness 

and response capability,” 

the Director-General said. 

“We will also be looking at innovative 

ways in which we can realise some 

synergies across our volunteers 

organisations to improve access to, 

and focus on, areas of need. 

“In addition to that, we have 

$4.567 million to develop an 

enhanced geospatial information 

and mapping capability to provide 

relevant, real-time and detailed 

information to on-the-ground 

decision-making personnel. 

“All of these initiatives will help 

us to make sure our coastal 

communities are better prepared 

for major events like cyclones.” 

www.emergency.qld.gov.au EMERGENCY October 2006

Firefighters from Petrie, Deception Bay, 

Arana Hills, Hendra, Caboolture, Bribie 

Island and Roma Street responded to this 

bush fire at Bald Hills in Brisbane’s north 

recently. They were aided by Helitak 

support and Brisbane City Council fire 

suppression units. No lives or property 

were lost. Photo courtesy of Mark Cross. 

Effective community liaison is the key 

Playing an active part in the 

community is a vital part of 

the provision of a successful 

firefighting service. 

Our role as educators is every bit as 

important as our operational role. 

Community liaison involves maintaining 

the trust of the community so our safety 

messages are heard and taken on board. 

But an important part of making a 

community safer is people taking 

responsibility for their own environment, 

whether it is rural, urban or iZone. 

This is always challenging and our 

assistance is important in reaching 

successful outcomes. 

Recently, a community experienced a 

large number of deliberately lit grass 

and bush fires, almost certainly caused 

by local school students, given the 

time and proximity of the fires to 

local schools. 

A combined operation with Queensland 

Fire and Rescue Service, Queensland 

Police Service and the local council 

is targeting this potentially deadly 

situation with a view to convicting, 

or at least deterring, the offenders. 

Apart from targeted surveillance of 

the at-risk areas, there has been 

considerable community consultation 

with the local schools and involved 

community groups. 

Combined with the policing and 

consultative work has been a locally 

targeted media campaign to alert 

the community to the threat and ask 

for their vigilance and highlight the 

importance of community involvement 

in dealing with local issues. 

Almost immediately, some likely 

offenders were identified. 

This well-executed initiative has 

demonstrated the importance of 

maintaining our liaison with our local 

community in order to prevent fires, 

reduce the danger to our people and 

the community and potentially divert 

small-time offenders from becoming 

a bigger problem if left unchecked. 

QFRS is an important part of the 

Queensland and local community. 

Queenslanders rely on us for local 

assistance and advice. 

The Safehome program is an example 

of a valuable service both to the 

householder as well as to us. One 

better-prepared household is 

potentially one less danger to us. 

The Bushfire Prepared Communities 

program is another initiative intended 

to help communities take control of 

their local situation to contribute to 

their own safety. 

Our role in community liaison will never 

eliminate our operational workload but 

it will reduce it and that means less lives 

lost, less property damage and most 

importantly, less danger to firefighters. 

Lee A Johnson AFSM MIFireE 

QFRS Commissioner 

6 EMERGENCY October 2006 www.emergency.qld.gov.au

Pictured are this year’s State Star Care Award recipients, from left, Ipswich Ambulance Station OIC Jan Tooth (Highly Commended Station), 

Nina Herbert (Support Officer of the Year), Bribie Island Ambulance Station OIC Pat Lynch (Station of the Year), QAS Commissioner Jim Higgins, 

Kyle Collins (Young Hero of the Year), DES Director-General Fiona McKersie, Bob McIlroy (Paramedic of the Year), Patrick Downing 

(Communications Officer of the Year) and Adrian Le Motte (LAC Achiever of the Year). For a full Ambulance Week wrap, see page 12. 

Ambulance Week another great success 

Last month the Queensland 

Ambulance Service celebrated 

Ambulance Week 2006 across the 

State and I was delighted to attend 

events and award ceremonies in 

each of our seven regions. 

The nature of the QAS and 

Emergency Services means we’re 

often too busy to stop and take the 

time to reflect on the good work 

we do and the excellent service 

we provide to all Queenslanders. 

Ambulance Week was the perfect 

time to do just that. 

It was an opportunity for us to 

recognise the unique nature 

of the work our paramedics, 

communications officers and patient 

transport officers perform, and 

to acknowledge the greater team 

of people who make up the QAS, 

from educators and trainers to 

counsellors and administrative staff. 

To all of our operational staff, 

volunteers and support staff who 

make this great service what it is, 

thank you for your dedication to 

the QAS and your professionalism. 

I can assure all of you the service 

you provide is valued by the 

communities you serve and 

does not go unnoticed. 

My thanks also to those who worked 

behind the scenes to coordinate 

events, award ceremonies and 

public activities during 

Ambulance Week. Your efforts 

ensured Ambulance Week was 

the outstanding success it was. 

Congratulations to all of our 

State and Regional Star Care 

Award winners and recipients of 

Long Service and Distinguished 

Service Medals. Over the course of 

Ambulance Week I was privileged to 

meet many of the award recipients and 

it reaffirmed to me the quality of our 

staff and the great job you do. 

Finally, many of you may be wondering 

why I have been sporting a new, and 

very short, hairstyle since the start of 

Ambulance Week. 

During the Ambulance Week Family Fun 

Day celebrations, I agreed to have my 

head shaved to raise funds for a very 

important charity – Kayak and Cycle for 

Kemo Kids (KC4KK). 

As vice-patron of KC4KK, I was 

overwhelmed by the generosity of 

those who donated to this most 

worthwhile cause and I am delighted 

to announce that, as at the end of 

Ambulance Week, we had raised 

more than $30,000 for childhood 

cancer research. 

Thank you to all of those who 

supported KC4KK, it certainly makes 

my bald head all the more worth it. 

Jim Higgins ASM 

QAS Commissioner 


Emergency Management Queensland’s Brisbane-based Bell 412 helicopter 

crew prepares to transport an injured Fernvale man after he was crushed 

by falling steel recently. 

National week gives chance to profile SES 

2006 has been an extraordinary 

year for the State Emergency 

Service (SES), and with National 

SES week coming up next month 

(November 11-19), I encourage 

everyone involved in the SES to 

be part of the celebrations. 

The week provides a perfect 

opportunity to hold community 

events and help raise awareness 

of the fantastic work done by our 

volunteers around the State. 

I’m looking forward to travelling to 

each of the regions during the week 

to participate in the regional award 

ceremonies, where individuals and 

groups who have made significant 

contributions through the year can 

be recognised appropriately. 

Events such as these are 

undeniably important, for both 

our volunteers and our paid 

staff, as they reward operational 

excellence and encourage future 

achievement. 

SES Week will culminate in a State 

Award ceremony to be held on 

Sunday, November 19, and will 

be followed by a church service to 

commemorate the generosity of 

spirit that characterises the SES. 

On another note, election 

commitments made as part of 

the Queensland State election 

in September have resulted 

in increased funding for 

several branches of Emergency 

Management Queensland (EMQ). 

For the SES in particular, the 

commitment will provide funding 

to improve volunteer training, 

enhance SES management 

capacity, provide additional SES 

equipment, provide funds needed 

to implement the standard 132 500 

SES contact number, and deliver 

enhanced regional technical and 

communications equipment. 

For marine volunteer organisations 

supported by EMQ, including 

Volunteer Marine Rescue, 

Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, 

Surf Life Saving Queensland and 

Royal Life Saving Queensland, the 

government’s commitment will 

provide funding to implement new 

beach and marine safety programs 

over the next four years. 

This funding across the EMQ 

portfolio will increase our 

capacity to continue to improve 

the services we provide to 

Queensland communities over 

the next few years. 

Frank Pagano AFSM 

Executive Director 

Emergency Management 

Queensland 


EMQ ready for new storm season 

With another potentially 

severe storm season 

approaching, Emergency 

Management Queensland 

has urged everyone to start 

preparing their homes now. 

Emergency Services Minister 

Pat Purcell launched EMQ’s 

Storm Season Preparedness 

Campaign earlier this month 

amid a hum of SES activity. 

As volunteers in orange 

overalls pruned an overhanging 

branch and hoisted a tarp 

onto a roof, the Minister 

delivered some important 

safety messages to the media 

who had gathered at a private 

residence in Morningside. 

“Queenslanders know that 

around this time of year when 

the temperatures start to 

climb, destructive weather 

is just around the corner,” 

he said. 

“The best approach to take is 

one of preparedness, which 

means that everyone needs to 

do their part in ensuring their 

own safety and protection of 

life and property during 

storm season.” 

Members of the Brisbane SES 

Eastern group were on hand 

to simulate emergency roof 

repairs and to demonstrate 

important safety measures that 

people should take before the 

weather gets wild. 

Mr Purcell said by following a 

few simple steps, residents 

could greatly reduce the risk to 

their family, pets and property. 

“Now is the time to check 

that your home is in sound 

condition, especially the roof 

and eaves; you should trim 

any tree branches overhanging 

your roof, clear your gutters, 

drains and downpipes and 

clear your property of any loose 

items that may blow about,” 

he said. 

The SES – which last year 

responded to more than 2000 

calls for assistance during 

storm season – also advised 

residents to check that their 

household and contents 

insurance was adequate. 

Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell at the EMQ storm season launch. 

Photo courtesy Quest Newspapers. 

How to prepare 

Trim any branches overhanging 

your roof 

Clear gutters and drains of debris 

Bring children’s play equipment 

and outdoor furniture indoors 

Prepare an emergency kit (including 

torch, portable radio, first aid kit 

and emergency phone numbers) 

Check your home insurance policy 

is adequate and up-to-date 


Photos by Mark Cross 

Research uncovers 

dry slot phenomena 

By Femke Mason 

This year’s bushfire season is already 

well underway and the ongoing 

drought and subsequent high fuel load 

are presenting a huge challenge for the 

State’s fire service. 

With these realities facing firefighters, 

the availability of research that may 

provide an insight into the behaviour of 

bushfires comes at a crucial time. 

After several years of studying weather 

and fire patterns, Bureau of Meteorology 

Research Centre and Bushfire 

Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) 

scientist, Dr Graham Mills, has revealed 

that fire behaviour may be affected by 

what he refers to as ‘dry slots’. 

The dry slot phenomena, as described 

in an article produced by the CRC in 

conjunction with Dr Mills, consists of 

columns of super-dry air that descend to 

the earth’s surface from high altitudes. 

When this air reaches the surface, a 

rapid loss of humidity occurs and causes 

extreme drying of fuel on the ground, 

often increasing fire activity. 

“I’m a meteorologist, not a fire behaviour 

scientist, but I understand that fine fuel 

moisture content will respond to changes 

of atmospheric moisture within an hour, 

so these extreme drying events will 

affect fine fuel moisture,” Dr Mills said. 

“It is known that fire activity increases as 

the fuel dries, so there is a potential link. 

“To what degree this occurs is hard to 

say, but these processes have been 

observed for Canberra and one or two 

other major fires, so it would seem to 

be worth making a careful study of this 

phenomenon.” 

Dr Mills said that while these dry slots 

occurred in the upper levels virtually on 

a daily basis throughout the country, and 

could be monitored using specialised 

satellite imagery, it is the processes that 

lead to this air reaching the surface that 

formed the basis of his current research. 

Preliminary results revealed that this is 

more likely to occur in the afternoon, 

particularly if the day is hot. 

In addition, it would appear that 

mountains and wind changes could 

also enhance the likelihood of dry slots 

affecting fire behaviour. 

QFRS Assistant Commissioner Rural 

Operations, Steve Rothwell, said the 

information revealed from the research 

would be useful during the bushfire 

season. 

“This kind of research is very important 

in our planning for the bushfire season,” 

Steve said. 

“While unfortunately it’s unlikely we’ll 

ever be able to predict fire behaviour, 

the knowledge that these kinds of 

phenomena are more likely to occur in 

the afternoon and in geographically 

diverse areas, means we can increase 

firefighter awareness and safety. 

“We now have the knowledge that in areas 

surrounded by mountains, and particularly 

in the afternoon of a dry and hot day, we 

will need to be aware of this possibility. 

“With the Bureau of Meteorology’s 

support, this information will further 

assist with firefighter safety by providing 

us with at least some warning of 

potential changes to the fire.” 

Both Steve and Dr Mills agreed that 

while it would be impossible to completely 

control the way a fire behaves, the more 

research and understanding that can be 

undertaken, the better. 

“While mother nature is always going to 

be too determined when it comes to fire, 

if we can get a better handle on these 

types of phenomena and provide at 

least a few hours of warning, then a 

hope might be that we can keep 

firefighters even safer,” Dr Mills said. 


Case study: A dry slot in action 

In observations undertaken through 

his research, Dr Mills believes the 

bushfires in Canberra on January 18, 

2003 are likely to have worsened due to 

the presence of a dry slot. 

As explained in the CRC article: 

“On that day a cold front was pushing 

across south-eastern Australia toward 

the hot air masses and gusty winds 

already fanning the going fires. 

Columns of hot air were rising up to 

6km to mix with the drier air aloft. The 

strong vertical mixing then brought the 

much drier and fast-moving air rapidly 

to the surface. 

“On the fireground below, the scenario 

worsened to a nightmare. On 18 

January in Canberra, the bushfires 

were responsible for the death of four 

people, the destruction of almost 

500 homes and combined property 

damages of around $340 million.” 

The drop in humidity on the fireground 

in situations such as the Canberra fire 

detailed above mean firefighters must 

not only contend with hotter, fasting 

moving air, but also the effects of this, 

which include the quick drying out of 

fuel on the ground. 

These elements can contribute to 

a smaller bushfire turning into an 

explosive wildfire in a fairly short 

amount of time. 

Quick Facts 

What is a dry slot? 

A bushfire CRC article written in 

conjunction with Dr Graham Mills 

identifies a dry slot as: “columns 

of dry, fast moving, high-altitude 

air that can cause a rapid loss of 

humidity and very strong gusty 

winds if they reach the ground.” 

What does a dry slot do? 

A dry slot is likely to act as a 

further trigger during a bushfire 

by drying out fuel more quickly 

and increasing gustiness. This can 

cause the fire to explode quickly. 

How will the 

identification of this 

phenomenon affect 

firefighters? 

Dr Graham Mills believes the 

identification of dry slots will 

allow firefighters to plan more 

extensively in the treatment of 

bushfires. In consultation with the 

Bureau of Meteorology, firefighters 

will have more understanding 

about the behaviour of the fire 

and should gain earlier warning 

of the potential for a fire to take 

off explosively. 

www.emergency.qld.gov.au EMERGENCY October 2006 11

Ambulance Week 2006 

Ambulance Week has gone from 

strength to strength over the years... 

and 2006 was no exception. 

It all began with QAS Commissioner, 

Jim Higgins, having his head shaved to 

raise money for children with cancer. 

He raised more than $30,000 by 

going bald. 

“I am very proud to support Kayak and 

Cycle for Kemo Kids as vice-patron, 

raising funds with this worthwhile 

charity,” Commissioner Higgins said. 

During the week, various awards were 

handed out around the State, showcasing 

the diverse talents of QAS staff and 

providing the perfect opportunity for 

a catch-up with colleagues. 

Area Director Peter Chatman dares Commissioner Jim Higgins to take a peek at his new hair style 

during Family Fun Day activities at Southbank, Brisbane. 

Photo courtesy Gladstone Observer 

Russell Thomas, Renae Jinks and Ben Ghee prepare for the open day at Gladstone Ambulance Station as part of Central Region’s Ambulance Week celebrations. 

Assistant Commissioner for the South 

Western Region, Leo McNamara, presents 

LAC Achiever of the Year Gilbert Lang with 

his award. 

QAS Commissioner Jim Higgins and South 

Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner 

David Eeles present the Best Station Award 

to Ipswich OIC Jan Tooth. 


QAS staff make their way to the Memorial Service for fallen officers in Cairns. 

Star Care Awards recipients 

Q1 NORTHERN 

Paramedic of the Year 

Sandra Jang, Magnetic Island Station 

Station of the Year 

Mornington Island Station 

Young Hero of the Year 

Zillah Bramwell, 16 years old 

Patient Transport Officer of the Year 

Trevor Hawken, Douglas Station 

Support Officer of the Year 

Mary Harris, Administration Officer 

Communications Officer of the Year 

Matthew Hines, Townsville 

LAC Achiever of the Year 

Steve Fantuz, Halifax LAC 

Q2 CENTRAL 


Anthony Weber, Gladstone Station 


Sarina Station 


Jack Joseland, 12 years old 


Neil Bawden, Biloela Station 


Rebecca Geary, Administration Assistant 


Patrick Downing, CAPCOM 


Adrian Le Motte, Biloela LAC 

Q3 SOUTH WESTERN 


Paul Chapman, Cunnamulla Station 


Cunnamulla Station 


Zack Hoskin, 15 years old 


John Hodson, Dalby Station 


Rebecca Fisher 


Michael Anderson, Toowoomba 


Gilbert Lang, Oakey LAC 

Q4 NORTH COAST 


John Hall, Maroochydore Station 


Hervey Bay Station 


Keith Smith, Buderim Station 


Julie Black, Regional Data Integrity Officer 


Danielle Walker, North Coast 


James and Colleen Watt, Proston LAC 

Q5 GREATER BRISBANE 


Phil Payne, Eatons Hill Station 


Bribie Island Station 


Callum Heinjus, 9 years old 


Peter Nosworthy, Spring Hill Station 


Nina Herbert, Community Education Officer 


Janine Emmett, Eatons Hill LAC 

Q6 SOUTH EASTERN 


Scott Brown, Coral Gardens Station 


Ipswich Station 

The Kirwan Ambulance Station and LAC display at 

The Willows Shopping Centre in Northern Region. 

North Coast Region National Medal Award recipients: 

Intensive Care Paramedic Kevin Charteris, Advanced 

Care Paramedic Melissa Cheshire and ACP Neil Fritz. 

Photo courtesy Bundaberg News-Mail. 


Kevin Fraser, Coolangatta Station 


Phillip Skimmings, SECOMM 


Lloyd Badke, Coolangatta/Burleigh Heads LAC 

Q7 FAR NORTHERN 


Robert McIlroy, Tully Station 


Mission Beach Station 


Kyle Collins, 8 years old 


Bruce Hill, Cairns Station 


June Pardon, Administration Officer 


Jacqueline Maiden, Cairns 


Jeanie Robson, Cardwell LAC 

State Star Car Award 

recipients 


Bob McIlroy, Tully Station 


Kyle Collins, Townsville 


Nina Herbert, Brisbane 


Patrick Downing, Central Region 

Communications Centre 


Bruce Hill, Cairns Station 


Bribie Island Station 


Adrian Le Motte, Biloela Station 


Make-up a serious business for Nicky 

Student paramedic Nicky Tibbles 

isn’t just learning how to treat 

serious wounds – she’s also creating 

them. Well, sort of. 

Constructing fake chemical burns, leg 

fractures, bones sticking out of limbs 

and lashings of congealed blood are 

all part of her day’s work. 

That’s because Nicky looks after the 

make-up during training scenarios 

to help create realistic situations for 

emergency workers. 

Nicky was working in office support for 

the Queensland Combined Emergency 

Services Academy (QCESA) at Lutwyche 

when the call went out for volunteers 

to do make-up for student paramedics’ 

training scenarios. 

Nicky jumped at the chance. 

“Another secretary and I put our hand 

up and we were sent on a one-day 

course,” she said. 

“That was back in 1999 and since then 

have we taught ourselves the rest. 

“I started doing all the road rescue 

competitions in Queensland and this is 

my fourth year doing make-up for the 

Mines Rescue Challenge at Mt Isa. 

“Through QCESA, my colleague Tanya 

Pepper does makeup for Intensive Care 

Paramedics when they’re training. 

“We decided there was a big need for 

it and as a student paramedic myself 

now, I think it is really important to have 

that sense of reality when participating 

in these training sessions. 

“Previously, student paramedics were 

doing scenarios and using dummies or 

actors, but once you apply make-up it’s 

closer to what you see out in the field.” 

Nicky said their unique service 

could also benefit businesses 

outside DES. 

“We did the make-up for a small 

company on North Stradbroke Island 

and they said they never had people 

so excited to do first aid and it was 

because of the realness it added having 

the make-up to make it interesting,” 

she said. 

“The employees loved it and they got 

more involved because they can see it 

and it’s fun so we will focus on trying 

companies outside of DES next year. 

“It works both ways – it enables the 

actor to get into the role a lot more and 

then is beneficial for students so they 

can see straight away what the patient 

is like. 

“Instead of trainer instructing the 

paramedic, the paramedic can see for 

themselves and make determination 

on patient care. 

Nicky Tibbles works her magic. 

“We do the Road Accident Rescue 

championships around Queensland 

– regional, State and national – we do 

the five competitions each year. 

“For something like that it usually takes 

six ‘patients’ rotated throughout the 

day and takes about an hour to set up. 

Between Tanya and I the most patients 

we’ve done is 24 people in a two-hour 

time frame. 

“We also do make-up for USAR (Urban 

Search and Rescue) at QCESA Whyte 

Island – they usually do three or four 

exercises a year. 


“Osbourne Mine out at Mt Isa, 

as part of an airport exercise 

three years ago, was also a great 

experience for us as there were 

multiple injuries. 

“This is a part-time business with 

Tanya at the moment but once 

I’m qualified next year I’ll have 

more free time to set up dates 

with companies on my days off. 

“But it’s not all about business 

– when I left to do my paramedic 

student program I taught 

administrative staff how to do 

make-up so they could still 

keep the realism for the student 

paramedics. 

“Obviously, DES is our main 

game – something we will always 

do – but it would be nice to 

branch out with other companies 

– we like the training perspective 

for people rather than the art 

form like for theatre etc – we 

definitely want to concentrate on 

the training side of it. 

“Tanya and I started the business 

together the middle of last year 

– www.moulagerouge.com.au – 

if you want to check it out.” 

A simulated gunshot to the head with exit wound. 

Impaled with a wooden stake. 


Aero-medical resources critical 

for envenomation responses 

It is no secret that Australia has a 

reputation for its deadly snakes, 

spiders and marine stingers, yet in 

reality, the number of casualties caused 

by these venomous creatures is low. 

On average, one or two people annually 

die from snake bites across the country, 

despite the fact that more than 3000 

bites are recorded each year. 

The incidence of marine envenomations 

is even lower, despite the popularity of 

Australia’s world-famous beaches. 

Just a handful of deaths from stingrays 

have been recorded in Australia, while 68 

deaths have been caused by box jellyfish 

since 1883, and just two by Irukandji. 

However, despite this low rate, the vast 

physical size of Queensland means that 

a bite or sting in a rural or remote area 

can be life-threatening, and requires 

urgent action. 

“Most snake bites, with correct first 

aid, are survivable. A rapid medical 

response will increase the chances, 

but correct identification and the 

administration of antivenom are 

critical,” Queensland Ambulance 

Service Chief Medical Director 

Stephen Rashford said. 

To help emergency services providers 

respond swiftly to such incidents, 

the State relies on the Queensland 

Emergency Medical System (QEMS) 

– an integrated and coordinated 

system of care for the acutely ill and 

injured, with access to 17 aero-medical 

resources spread across the State. 

With 18 pilots, 16 aircrew officers, 15 

rescue crew officers, four engineers and 

four admin staff, EMQ Rescue is one of 

the most sophisticated, well-resourced 

services, providing state-of-the-art 

equipment and medical care 

across Queensland. 

This network of helicopters is activated 

regularly to retrieve Queenslanders that 

have been bitten by some of the world’s 

deadliest creatures. 

So when a two-year-old presents in 

the Atherton Tablelands with a severe 

headache, nausea, unusual scratch 

marks on her left leg and localised 

bleeding, the response is activated 

via the QEMS Coordination Centre 

at Spring Hill in Brisbane. 

Her condition is monitored at the 

Mareeba Base Hospital, samples 

from the bite site are analysed using 

the highly accurate Venom Detection 

Kit and doctors determine she has 

been struck by a King Brown, one of 

Australia’s most common snakes. 


Just 20 minutes away, the Cairns-based 

EMQ Rescue helicopter crew prepares 

the aircraft for the flight to Mareeba. 

A high percentage of the caseload 

for the Cairns-based helicopter also 

involves flying to the inner and outer 

reefs for marine-related stings, diving 

accidents and occasional shark bites. 

Whether they are being called to a 

snake bite or marine sting, the rescue 

crews must be prepared for anything. 

Thursday Island-based Intensive 

Care Paramedic Ron Sapir recalls 

an extraordinary story. 

Ron was on shift when an 18-year-old 

was brought in from neighbouring 

Papua New Guinea. 

International agreements between 

Australia and PNG offer residents 

access to health services at 

neighbouring Saibai Island. 

From Saibai, patients can be 

transported to Cairns for treatment 

at the tertiary facility. 

“I really thought this guy was 

going to die,” Ron said. 

“He had also been treated by 

traditional methods, meaning he 

presented with a series of head 

wounds inflicted by friends to try and 

drive out the evil poisons that had 

been injected into him. 

“It is not uncommon for patients to be 

struck heavy blows with sharp rocks or 

shellfish until heavy bleeding occurs. 

Children as young as two have been 

airlifted with similar injuries unrelated 

to the condition reported to the triple 

zero service.” 

However, according to Ron, the most 

extraordinary detail of the case was that 

the man had been bitten on the foot 

by a Taipan, walked for several hours, 

travelled by canoe from PNG to Saibai, 

waited for transport off the island and 

then been airlifted to Cairns. 

In the meantime, he had been treated 

with three lots of antivenom, and was 

progressively deteriorating. 

Clinically his survival seemed highly 

unlikely, yet a week later, when the 

helicopter landed with another patient, 

Ron noticed a young man watching him. 

“Pretty soon he yelled out to us and 

said were we the ones who took him 

off the island. I couldn’t believe my 

eyes,” Ron said. 

“He said he was fine and was just 

waiting to go home. His family didn’t 

even know where he was.” 



Women In Uniform 

Queensland females take up the firefighting challenge 

By Gemma Marks 

Time may have changed the turnout 

gear, but for more than 100 years 

female firefighters have been an 

integral part of the fire service. 

Gone are the corsets and the long 

woollen dresses of the early 1900s, 

but the determination and dedication 

shown by today’s female firefighters 

remain the same. 

The Queensland Fire and Rescue 

Service’s female firefighters gathered 

last month for the QFRS Female 

Firefighter Conference at Indooroopilly 

in Brisbane to discuss recruitment, 

career progression and other issues. 

“The advice and feedback we have 

been getting on our recruitment process 

has been invaluable in increasing the 

number of women in the Queensland 

Fire and Rescue Service and I am 

very pleased to take that guidance,” 

Commissioner Lee Johnson said. 

There is no doubt that there are 

significant differences between men 

and women, and the QFRS, like most 

employers, is looking for this diversity 

and to increase the skill sets of 

its employees. 

The number of women joining 

the QFRS is slowly increasing, but 

it is imperative that this is done 

without changing the standards, 

or the requirements to meet those 

standards, according to QFRS policy. 

It will also take some time to gradually 

change attitudes toward women in the 

fire service. 

Acting Staff Officer Sue Smith, one of 

the speakers and coordinators of the 

conference, said women were well 

aware of their own uniqueness within 

the fire service. 

“They are doing a fantastic job 

participating as part of the team 

structure that is required to run an 

effective and efficient fire service,” 

she said. 

“The women in QFRS are mortified 

at the thought that anyone would be 

appointed without meeting the same 

standards as their male counterparts. 

It’s all about getting the job done and 

remembering that firefighters work 

in teams and one of the main sets 

of skills they need to do this job 

effectively is people skills.” 

Reflecting on the roles of women in 

the fire service reminds us just how 

long female firefighters have been 

at the forefront of protecting our 

communities. 

A group of women involved in the 

first ladies fire brigade in Armidale, 

New South Wales, were the Armidale 

Amazons of 1901. They trained in 

the same way as male firefighters, 

competed against men in firefighting 

field competitions (and won) and 

carried out duties in the early 1900s. 

These women had quite a different 

dress code compared to today’s female 

firefighters, wearing long woollen 

dresses, and as was the code of the 

time, they also wore corsets. 

This was the first record of female 

firefighters in Australia, and from the 

1940s women were called in during war 

times to carry out firefighting duties. >> 


“It is wonderful to have 

evidence of female participation in 

firefighting, as there seems to be a 

vacuum in the recorded history of 

female firefighters in Queensland 

before the appointment of the first 

female firefighter in the QFRS in 

1996,” Sue said. 

Currently, QFRS employs 20 

permanent female firefighters, two 

of whom are now fully qualified 

station officers. 

These women, Michelle Young 

and Vicki Shailer, are pioneers 

in their field, who have proven 

themselves and are leading the 

way for other women to move into 

more senior roles. 

There are also approximately 

9000 female volunteers and 180 

female auxiliary firefighters. 

With the ongoing advancement 

and recruitment of female 

firefighters, women will continue 

to be a significant part of QFRS 

history in the making. 

The Armidale Amazons…Circa 1901. 


Profile 

Vicki Shailer 

Q1. What is your position with QFRS? 

Station Officer at Bundaberg Fire Station, and currently in the role 

of Safety Assessment Officer for Bundaberg Area Office. 

Q2. How long have you been with the QFRS? 

I joined in May 1993 as an Auxiliary Firefighter and Admin Officer 

for District Office. I became a permanent firefighter in September 

1997, and was appointed as a Station Officer in October 2005. 

Q3. What made you join QFRS? 

I joined QFRS because I like the physical side of the job, the 

challenges that are sometimes faced by firefighters, working for 

the community, the variety the job offers and also the career 

opportunities. 

Q4. What drives you in your role? 

I enjoy coming to work to face the challenges of the day – every 

day is different. Being able to work for the community and helping 

them when in need, and being part of a team environment. 

Q5. What are the greatest challenges within the QFRS? 

The greatest challenge would be keeping physically fit, especially 

when you are getting older. 

Q6. What memories stand out in your mind from your time in QFRS? 

Being involved in the Palace Backpacker fire in Childers, where 15 

lives were lost. I was on C Shift the night we got the call. The night 

was very foggy; driving along the highway to Childers was so slow. 

Radio messages given during the drive indicated we had a big job 

– persons reported missing/building well involved. On arrival it was 

so foggy and all you could see were lots of people in the street with 

sheets wrapped around them and then the Palace building fully 

involved in fire. It was very eerie. 

Q7. What benefits do you personally gain from being involved in QFRS? 

I gain a lot of satisfaction from helping the community in 

emergencies, having respect from the community, and being able 

to educate the young children of today in our fire safety programs. 

Also, the chance to have a secure career and the opportunity to 

progress through the ranks. 

Q8. How do you manage a work and life balance? 

I have been married for 18 years, with no children. Shift work allows 

me to manage my time better – only a husband to work around. 

Q9. If you could recommend the ideal person to join QFRS, what 

qualities and attributes would they have? 

The person would need to be able to work as a team, in adverse 

conditions, have a positive attitude, work with the community, be 

multi-skilled and have the ability to carry out studies. 

Q10. What would you say to other men and particularly women who 

are thinking about joining QFRS? 

If you like a challenge, physical work, being part of a team, being 

part of the community and great career opportunities, then 

firefighting may be for you. Give it 100 per cent and you will end 

up with the best career ever. 

Profile 

Michelle Young 

Q1. What is your position with QFRS? 

Station Officer in Brisbane Region, currently at Acacia Ridge 

Station on D Shift. 

Q2. How long have you been with QFRS? 

Almost 11 years, I joined in July 1995, and was appointed as a 

Station Officer in April 2004. 

Q3. What made you join QFRS? 

I joined the fire service because I didn’t want a boring job, 

I couldn’t see myself sitting behind a desk and I needed a 

challenging career that offered heaps of diversity. 

Q4. What drives you in your role? 

Plain old enthusiasm, I love what I do, I love thinking that I am 

making a difference and that other people respect what we do. 

Q5. What are the greatest challenges within the QFRS? 

Currently, completing my next two pay levels, which is extremely 

hard when you have two small children and you have to have 

100 per cent dedication. In the past, it was undertaking my 

officer’s exam, and as the first woman to ever do it I felt that 

I was under a bit of a microscope and it is a hard exam 

for anyone. 

Q6. What memories stand out in your mind from your time 

in QFRS? 

My first house fire, I can recall everything, the crew, the 

time, the street, everything. Also, training at Lytton (QCESA 

Whyte Island), everyone there and the camaraderie that I felt 

throughout the whole 12 weeks. 

Q7. What benefits do you personally gain from being involved 

in QFRS? 

Knowledge, I have learnt so much, and also the friendships and 

self-assertiveness. I think I was a little green when I first joined 

at 21, but I have gained heaps of confidence since then. 

Q8. How do you manage a work and life balance? 

I have learnt how to juggle. I am the ultimate circus performer 

now being a Station Officer/trainer at work, mother, wife, cook, 

cleaner, etc at home. It is really hard, but I have a good network 

of family and friends, which makes it that little bit easier to 

cope with. 

Q9. If you could recommend the ideal person to join QFRS, what 

qualities and attributes would they have? 

Anyone who has loads of common sense, a great attitude 

towards working with others and assisting anyone at anytime, 

and someone who is loyal, dedicated and trustworthy. 

Q10. What would you say to other men and particularly women 

who are thinking about joining QFRS? 

You’ll love it, just give it a go. I am just an average Jo, no one 

special, but I knew what I wanted and I went for it. If they have 

determination they will make it, it just takes a little hard work 

and the rewards are great. 


EMQ managing Aussie generosity after Larry 

An entire shipping container full of 

Weet-Bix was just one of the 

unusually generous offerings that found 

its way to the storeroom at the Innisfail 

SES following Tropical Cyclone Larry 

earlier this year. 

The anonymous donation is still baffling 

EMQ Youth Development Officer, Scott 

Mahaffey, who has been responsible for 

managing offers of assistance for the 

past two months. 

And with offers of assistance arriving 

from businesses, government 

departments and the general public, the 

task of allocating donations to needy 

recipients was unexpectedly large. 

“We received 642 official offers of 

assistance but not all of the products 

or services that were being offered to 

us were actually of use,” Scott said. 

“A good example is a couple from 

America who volunteered to fly over 

and help us for free – if we could pay 

for their airfares. So we had to whittle 

the list down to donations that were 

viable and useful.” 

After much investigation, a steering 

committee narrowed the list down to 

70 workable offers including a $15,000 

shed from a Toowoomba company and 

$80,000 worth of office equipment 

from a Sydney firm. 

“We had a huge amount of office 

stationery given to us including brand 

new fax machines and photocopiers, 

so we divided it all up into boxed packs 

and sent these out to 83 different 

organisations who were desperately in 

need of office equipment,” Scott said. 

Among the most common – and useful 

– of donations was housing material 

such as roofing iron, metal sheeting 

and guttering, which allowed hundreds 

of homes to be temporarily restored. 

Cleaning products, bottled water 

and safety clothing also came in by 

the pallet load as did computers and 

kitchen supplies. 

These offers were distributed by linking 

up donating suppliers with relevant 

non-profit organisations – the number 

of which was unexpectedly large, 

Scott said. 

Four pallets of kitchen utensils and 

cooking equipment went to Meals on 

Wheels and much of the bottled water 

was given to SES volunteers that spent 

a considerable amount of time in the 

sun repairing damaged homes. 

But the process of managing such 

extensive donations will need to be 

further refined if Queensland is to face 

a similar crisis in the future, Scott said. 

“Transportation of goods has been 

the biggest problem,” he explained. 

“One organisation offered us eight 

pallets of timber twine but all of it was 

sitting in Tassie, so we had to seek 

further donations to cover the cost of 

getting it up here by road, then ship 

and then road again. 

“In the future, we’ll also need to 

establish one central phone number 

to which all offers of assistance can 

be directed and managed by one 

team of staff,” he advised. 

But ironing out the administrative 

difficulties of managing such a large 

volume of donations has not tainted 

the experience for Scott. 

“We’ve seen so much generosity 

that it really makes you proud of 

the human spirit. People in 

Australia will always give when 

there’s a dire need,” he said. 

And at least there’s no shortage 

of Weet-Bix. 

– Sarah Oppenheim 


Directorate ensures integrated operations 

The issues dealt with by the 

Queensland Fire and Rescue 

Service’s State Operations Directorate 

are at the heart of the day-to-day 

operations of every firefighter. 

Providing greater structure and 

management for operational 

firefighters is the key concern for this 

relatively new unit. 

As operational management moves 

forward with new initiatives in 

professional conduct and a wide 

range of materials to assist staff, AD 

John Cawcutt and his team record and 

publish procedures and doctrines to 

ensure operational staff are successful 

and the community are safe. 

It’s a team focused on offering 

firefighters practical solutions for 

all problems – big and small. 

Having evolved from the Project 

Management Unit in June 2005, 

the State Operations Directorate 

approaches issues from an operations, 

business, training and community 

safety perspective to ensure that 

QFRS operational management is 

contemporary and integrated. 

The unit represents a unique, 

multifaceted division based around 

operations including policy, the State 

Operations Coordination Centre, Air 

Operations, Operational Research and 

Operational Capabilities including iZone. 

“This unit has been designed to allow 

us to recognise and address wide 

ranging issues from inconsistencies 

in training or management down to 

problems with incident forms and 

worksheets,” John said. 

“By recognising the importance of 

considering all areas of operations, 

business, training and community safety 

for every issue we address, we are 

developing policies and procedures that 

are going to directly benefit everyone. 

“Our work ensures there will be directives 

that are supported with training and 

safety measures and that they will also 

be delivered across the State – with 

everyone on the same page.” 

John said that prior to the establishment 

of the State Operations Directorate, 

there had been issues with materials 

being developed without the 

consideration of training, equipment 

available or policy surrounding use. 

Similarly, he said new equipment 

had been added to trucks in the past 

without clear instruction on when or 

how the equipment should be used. 

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed 

Overseeing the roll-out…Bruce Budge and John Cawcutt. 

by the unprecedented response to our 

initiatives,” John said. 

“Our Field Incident Guide (FIG) has gone 

into reprint after reprint and our on-theground 

staff are coming forward to thank 

us for recognising the need for change.” 

The Field Incident Guide is just one of a 

number of tangible initiatives designed 

by the directorate to assist firefighters in 

the field with simple guidance for wideranging 

scenarios. 

South Eastern Region Area Training 

Support Officer Anthony Wood said the 

guide had been an extremely useful tool 

in training and development. 

“It’s really good to see that we’ve got 

initiatives like the FIG coming out of the 

service that recognise the need for an 

easy-to-use guide that offers advice and 

check lists for the wide ranging scenarios 

we are presented with every day,” 

Anthony said. 

“What really is a simple tool in many 

ways offers an outstanding resource for 

all staff whether they are on the ground 

or sitting in an Incident Management 

Team trying to complete paperwork. 

“As a part of the training I conduct, the 

FIG and indeed the directorate as a 

whole, is something that I always draw 

attention to and encourage all staff to 

consult during times of need, ” he said. 

John Cawcutt said while the directorate’s 

initiatives were designed to provide 

a standard and straightforward guide 

for incident management, it still left 

room for managing incidents subject to 

experience and circumstance. 

“Our main commitment will always be to 

the firefighters and we certainly respect 

their knowledge and need for decisions 

at the scene of an incident,” he said. 

“What we do hope to do though is to 

provide the support and standards that 

will make their job a little safer and 

easier in recognition of their needs on 

the fire ground.” 

The State Operations Directorate team, 

made up of 13 dedicated and skilled 

staff, is looking forward to further 

developing the unit and the subsequent 

initiatives that come directly from staff 

feedback. 

John said the unit was proud to receive 

national recognition as a cutting edge 

leader in operational standards and 

innovation with numerous States 

acknowledging its work. 

“Just as we look to gain the support 

and reception from our interstate 

counterparts, we are very open to the 

opinions and feedback from those we 

hope to serve – QFRS staff.” 

For more information contact Kim Morris 

on kmorris@emergency.qld.gov.au. 

– Femke Mason 


New QAS first aid manual launched 

The Queensland Ambulance Service 

has unveiled its new First Aid 

Manual in line with updated emergency 

resuscitation procedures. 

A greater emphasis has been placed on 

chest compressions, with the ratio being 

changed from 15:2 or 5:1 to 30:2. 

The QAS’s first fully owned manual was 

launched in Brisbane’s Queen Street 

Mall at the end of August. 

QAS Commissioner Jim Higgins said the 

launch aimed to highlight the importance 

of knowing first aid. 

“All our programs and products have now 

been thoroughly revised to reflect today’s 

current climate and industry trends 

and to include the recent Australian 

Resuscitation Council’s cardiopulmonary 

resuscitation (CPR) changes,” 

Commissioner Higgins said. 

“Courses have been revised to include upto-date 

teaching methodologies and allow 

for more flexible modes of learning.” 

The Commissioner said the changes and 

the new manual were a very important 

milestone in ambulance service’s 

development and a significant step 

forward in making Queensland a 

safer state. 

“I can also assure the Queensland 

community QAS first aid education will 

continue to lead the way as its products 

evolve to meet advances in first aid and 

education practice,” he said. 

Other recent business achievements 

include: revised training deliverables 

– pre-course and course book materials; 

updates to all first aid training 

materials to include the new Australian 

Resuscitation Council’s CPR changes; 

and online booking enquiry capability. 

Manuals can be purchased by phoning 

1300 369 003 during business hours. 

Ambos association news 

The Retired and Serving Ambulance 

Officers Association of Queensland 

held its Annual General Meeting in 

Stanthorpe recently. 

President Greg Linnett said 

several changes were made to the 

association’s committee. 

“I would like to welcome the new 

committee members and thank 

them for taking up these positions. 

The motivation and support of the 

association will only help to keep us 

strong,” Greg said. 

“I would also like to thank the 

outgoing committee members for their 

support and friendship during their 

time on the committee. 

“I am also happy to report that our 

current sponsors have agreed to come 

on board with us again. We are very 

grateful for their financial and moral 

support.” 

The new committee is: president 

– Greg Linnett, senior vice president 

– Frank Thompson, secretary 

– Michael Morton, treasurer – John 

Brady, committee members – Greg 

Hardy, Brian Wisley, Dough Madsen, 

Chris Neave, Wendy Aiken, Ron Watts, 

Wendy Ardrey. 

For more information about the 

association, contact Greg Linnett on 

07 4661 4457 or 0418 755 142. 


North Coast welcomes 

‘sea change’ AC 

When it comes to executive 

management roles within the 

ambulance industry, the QAS North 

Coast Region Assistant Commissioner 

position would have to be high on the 

list as one the best, and most soughtafter, 

jobs across Australia. 

Not only does it offer an opportunity 

to join one of the world’s leading 

ambulance services, it also offers an 

idyllic lifestyle located within a region 

that covers the coastal areas from the 

Sunshine Coast north to Bundaberg and 

inland to the Burnett area. 

Stephen Gough was appointed to the 

position in late August and knows he is 

on a good wicket. 

“The QAS is a rapidly changing 

organisation at the forefront of the 

delivery of pre-hospital care utilising 

modern technology and systems,” 

Stephen said. 

“The North Coast Region offers a 

lot of opportunity as it develops an 

expanding range of service models in 

partnership with the community. 

“I have always had a real interest in 

coming to work in Queensland. Apart 

from the weather, the size and diversity 

of the State is quite different to where 

I have worked in recent years.” 

Stephen brought a wealth of experience 

to QAS, having spent 27 years in the 

ambulance industry in both NSW 

and Victoria. 

“During that time, I have worked 

in front-line clinical roles, 

staff development, education, 

communications and a range of 

management positions at various 

levels,” he said. 

“One of the highlights of my career 

was a period as the Secretary of the 

industry’s peak body, the Council of 

Ambulance Authorities, including 

representation on various national 

committees to further ambulance 

education, clinical practice and rural 

pre-hospital care. 

“The ambulance industry has moved 

ahead very rapidly, particularly over 

the past 10 years and it has been great 

privilege to have been able to be an 

active contributor to that change.” 

Stephen is the first to admit that 

his new role presents a number of 

challenges as he leads a region faced 

with unprecedented population growth 

as it continues to attract ‘sea-changers’ 

and retirees to its idyllic lifestyle. 

“My immediate priorities are to meet as 

many of the regional staff as possible 

over the next few months and to gain 

a good understanding of the specific 

operations of the QAS, as well as look 

at the current issues facing the region in 

Kawana Beach, Sunshine Coast. 

Photo courtesy Tourism Queensland. 

Stephen Gough is 

busy settling into 

his new role and 

meeting staff 

across the North 

Coast Region. 

continuing to meet increasing 

demand for services,” he said. 

“The QAS also has a number of key 

strategic priorities that need to be 

delivered over the next 12 months 

including the delivery of a range 

of enhanced clinical skills training 

programs, moving to an electronic 

ambulance report form, upgrading the 

current computer aided dispatch system 

and improving workplace safety as part 

of the department’s zero harm focus. 

“I am also keen to meet and talk 

with LAC members, community 

representatives and other emergency 

services colleagues as I travel 

throughout the region.” 

QAS priorities aside, Stephen is also 

planning on keeping busy exploring 

and enjoying the region with his family 

over the coming months. 

“The Queensland lifestyle is just 

fantastic. Queensland has so much to 

offer, so much to see and so much to 

do,” he said. 

“I haven’t spent a lot of time in 

Queensland in the past, however my 

family and I are looking forward to 

getting out on the weekends and 

making the most of the many 

opportunities that are available. 

There really is something here for 

any interest.” 


Directive to streamline recruitment 

It’s 08:30 on Monday morning, 

you have an extremely busy 

week ahead, and one of your key 

staff members has just handed 

in their resignation. 

Ever had this problem? What’s 

worse is the perception that 

recruitment processes are 

arduous, time-consuming and 

stressful. Or are they? 

The exciting news for the 

Department of Emergency 

Services is that the Office of the 

Public Service Commissioner 

recently released the 04/06 

Recruitment and Selection 

Directive. 

Human Resource Services 

Director Geraldine Cavallo said 

the new directive offered an 

exciting new opportunity for DES 

to significantly revise its talent 

attraction, recruitment and 

selection processes. 

“The goal of this review is to 

capitalise on the directive and 

create new and innovative 

approaches as well as a 

simplified and more effective 

recruitment process,” she said. 

“Those involved in recruiting 

staff will have much greater 

freedom and choice in how to 

attract and select candidates. 

“This is a great opportunity for 

Emergency Services to become 

a true employer of choice.” 

Geraldine said panels would 

be able to design their own 

tailored and creative selection 

processes, reduce the number 

of hurdles in the application 

process and reduce the 

administrative burden usually 

associated with processing 

recruitment. 

As an example, candidates would 

no longer be required to address 

lengthy selection criteria and 

panels could replace complicated 

weighting and rating processes 

with simpler selection techniques 

and selection recommendations. 

Queensland Ambulance North 

Coast Region Area Director Craig 

Emery said the new directive 

would give the department a 

great opportunity to react 

quickly to vacancies. 

“A creative advertising 

approach, followed by a 

streamlined selection process 

with straightforward paperwork 

requirements, means that we 

will be able to recruit quality 

candidates in a timeframe 

competitive with the private 

sector,” he said. 

Australia Day nominations sought 

Nominations are now being 

sought for the 2007 Australia 

Day Achievement Medallions and 

Appreciation Certificates. 

The Australia Day Achievement 

Medallions are a proud part of the 

department’s tradition of recognising 

excellence and distinguished service to 

those people who achieve best practice 

in their particular field of endeavour. 

In 2006, 190 recipients were presented 

with Australia Day Achievement 

Medallions and 14 recipients with 

Australia Day Appreciation Certificates. 

In selecting nominees for the Australia 

Day Achievement Medallion, particular 

emphasis should be placed on identifying 

staff and volunteers who have provided: 

• A significant contribution either to, or 

in support of, the delivery of emergency 

services in Queensland over the past 

12 months; and/or 

• a significant commitment to the 

provision of outstanding service within 

their respective division over the past 

12 months. 

In selecting nominees for the Australia 

Day Appreciation Certificate, particular 

Division Contact Phone Email 

emphasis should be placed 

on identifying: 

• Organisations that have provided 

outstanding support to the department 

over a period of time; and/or 

• supportive employers that have 

demonstrated a consistent commitment 

to auxiliary staff and volunteers 

attending emergency service callouts. 

Nominations must be submitted to 

divisional contact officers by Friday 

November 3. 

Divisional Contact Officers are listed 

below. 

Queensland Ambulance Service Terry Beitz 07 3247 8349 tbeitz@emergency.qld.gov.au 

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Chris Woutersz 07 3247 8078 cwouters@emergency.qld.gov.au 

Emergency Management Queensland Gen Fox 07 3247 8489 genfox@emergency.qld.gov.au 

Business Support Services Darlene Graham 07 3247 8605 drgraham@emergency.qld.gov.au 

Strategic Policy and Executive Services Gemma Sheahan 07 3247 8783 gsheahan@emergency.qld.gov.au 


Education the key to burns prevention 

Firefighters need to look 

no further than the Royal 

Brisbane Hospital Burns Unit 

to realise the importance of 

community fire education. 

Figures from the hospital 

show that 56 per cent of burns 

occur in the home and more 

than half those cases can be 

prevented. Figures also show 

that men suffer 73 per cent of 

all burns. 

Deputy Commissioner 

Iain Mackenzie, Assistant 

Commissioners Ray Eustace 

and Mark Roche and Executive 

Manager, Community 

Education and Research, Gary 

Gilby, recently inspected the 

facilities available to burns 

victims. 

“The work of the Royal 

Brisbane Hospital Burns 

Unit and its tremendously 

dedicated staff are a reminder 

of why Queensland Fire and 

Rescue Service focuses on 

fire safety,” Iain said. 

“You can’t help but 

be impressed by their 

professionalism, and their 

When QFRS Deputy 

Commissioner Iain 

MacKenzie appeared 

on Who Wants to be a 

Millionaire earlier this year 

his chosen charity was the 

Royal Children’s Hospital 

Burns Unit. 

desire to make sure people 

never have the misfortune of 

needing their services.” 

The hospital’s Burns Unit and 

Intensive Care Unit are often 

called into action with the 

arrival of a burns victim. 

According to the hospital, the 

basic principles of airway, 

breathing and circulation are 

the primary focus no matter 

what the injury. 

However in the case of a burns 

patient, this is performed 

simultaneously as Burns Unit 

specialists assess and treat 

the burns injury. 

Advanced medical techniques 

such as lifesaving surgery, 

the ability to grow skin in 

the laboratory and closing 

a portion of a wound using 

artificial skin give the team 

the expertise to save lives. 

The Burns Unit has a large 

tool kit these days for treating 

serious burns, but there is still 

a long way to go in researching 

medical techniques to give 

patients the best possible 

outcome after a burns injury. 

A bathtub for burns victims, specially designed at RBH and one of 

the best pieces of equipment to treat burns victims. 

Firies continue to support burns victims 

With each major burns victim 

costing $1 million to treat, the 

need to support this worldclass 

unit is both necessary 

and good economics. 

Iain recently handed over 

a cheque for $6500, the 

proceeds from appearing on 

‘Millionaire’, to Director of 

the Unit, Associate Professor 

Roy Kimble and Clinical 

Nurse Consultant of the 

Burns Unit Julie Mill. 

The Burns Unit is leading 

Australia and some might 

argue the world in children’s 

burns treatment and 

supporting research funded 

by the Royal Children’s 

Hospital Foundation. 

With the researchers located 

at the unit, their work is 

both clinically relevant and 

instantly applied to the 

victims, some only 

weeks old. 

As a result of the research 

and new burns treatments, 

in the past four years 

the number of children 

presenting with burns and 

requiring admission has 

dropped from 50 per cent 

to just three per cent. 

“If we could just get people 

to lock up flammable liquids 

at home the incidence 

of burns would drop 

dramatically,” Associate 

Professor Kimble said. 

As an added surprise the 

Royal Children’s Hospital 

Foundation was presented 

with a cheque for $9650, 

raised through the recent 

Firefighter Championships. 

In a letter of thanks the 

foundation said: “The guys 

with the Queensland Fire 

and Rescue are amazing in 

their support over the years 

through the calendar, various 

endurance bike rides, golf 

days, Fashion on Fire and the 

good old generic fundraisers. 

“So much of what our burns 

team is able to achieve 

is dependent upon the 

generosity of the community, 

especially the QFRS.” 


Indigenous PTO course a success 

When the QAS introduced a 

customised Patient Transport 

Officer Course for Indigenous 

Australians in the Central Region, 

the course organisers never envisaged 

it would be ranked as a finalist just 

one year later at the Queensland 

Training Awards. 

But, such was its success, the 

course was named as a finalist in 

the Queensland Indigenous Peoples’ 

Training Initiative Award category of the 

Queensland Training Awards, which 

were held recently. 

In August, the course also won a 

Minister’s Award for Excellence in 

the category of Partnership and 

Reconciliation. 

Course sponsor and QAS Strategic Staff 

Development Manager Rod Sheather 

said the program was founded on a 

recognition that existing recruitment 

and training practices were not 

attracting participation from 

Indigenous peoples. 

Rod said patient transport officers 

played an important role in the 

community, working mostly with people 

with chronic and debilitating illness 

or injuries. 

“Many of these patients require 

transport support from the QAS at 

regular intervals over long periods and 

the patient transport officers become 

a highly professional constant in their 

lives,” he said. 

“In the Central Queensland Region, 

many clients for this service are 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 

peoples. However, less than two per 

cent of the QAS workforce in the region 

identifies as Indigenous. 

“To address this imbalance and 

improve the service to Indigenous 

communities, education officers in the 

QAS Central Region developed and 

implemented a program to recruit, 

train and employ a group of Aboriginal 

and Torres Strait Islander patient 

transport officers.” 

Rod said he was extremely pleased 

with the success of the course to date, 

and even more pleased with the 

course outcomes. 

“The pilot course was conducted 

over three months from September to 

December last year,” he said. 

“We recruited five students for the 

course. All of them completed the 

Certificate III in Non-emergency Patient 

Care and all participants have been 

employed as patient transport officers. 

Patient Transport Officer Stewart Smith, pictured with Learning Support Officer Carolyn 

O’Sullivan, is now training to become a Paramedic. 

The customised Patient Transport Officer course provides a great model for other employers 

who want to improve access and success for Indigenous Australians. 

Three participants are currently 

pursuing higher-level qualifications 

within the QAS.” 

Rod said he believed the project would 

have far-reaching effects on the way 

the QAS recruits, trains and supports 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 

students. 

“The QAS now has a proven model 

to recruit and train patient transport 

officers from Indigenous communities,” 

he said. 

“This model will be adapted over time 

to improve access and success in other 

QAS vocational education and training 

programs. 

“In addition, the project will provide 

the basis for a manual of guidelines 

for tailoring training for Aboriginal 

and Torres Strait Islander participants 

and this manual will be used within 

QAS and made available to 

other organisations.” 

Work was now underway to develop a 

State Indigenous Cultural Awareness 

Course, Rod said. 

“On behalf of the State Ambulance 

Education Committee, I am 

developing the course, which will 

be completed by all paramedics, 

communications officers and patient 

transport officers,” he said. 

“It aims to provide all operational 

staff with a level of understanding 

about working with Indigenous 

colleagues and Indigenous patients.” 

The next Patient Transport Officer 

Course for Indigenous Australians 

will be held in March 2007. The 

course will be held in Central Region 

with an invitation extended to 

participants from other regions 

to attend. 

– Hayley Gillespie 


New uniform trial for SES 

SES volunteers across the State will 

shortly trial a new uniform that 

aims to provide greater comfort and 

flexibility during standard operations. 

Seven members from each region will 

be selected to take part in the trial, 

which is expected to run for 

four months. 

The new uniform comprises a twopiece 

overall made of lightweight 

material in the signature SES orange, 

and a navy blue t-shirt to be worn 

underneath. 

Also included will be a black utility 

belt – similar in style to those worn 

by QAS paramedics – which can be 

used to hold tools and other small 

items of equipment. 

SES Director Eddie Bennet said the 

new uniforms were designed to 

keep volunteers well protected while 

remaining cool and unrestrictive. 

“We found that many volunteers were 

concerned with being too hot in the 

heavy orange overalls, so we decided 

to try a material that was more 

lightweight,” he said. 

“The utility belt is also a great 

addition because it means that 

volunteers will be able to keep their 

equipment handy and can take the 

belt off when they jump in the car.” 

At the end of the four-month trial, 

participants will be asked to complete 

a feedback form so that an informed 

assessment of the trial can be made. 

Participants will be asked to comment 

on how well the new uniform suits the 

work they perform and whether or not 

it is durable and easy to wash. 

Funding opportunities available for SES 

There are currently several funding 

opportunities available to SES 

groups and local governments under 

the SES Subsidy Program and Natural 

Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP). 

The SES Subsidy Program, administered 

by EMQ, assists local governments in 

providing a high quality emergency 

and disaster service by supporting the 

activities of the SES. 

Eligible projects must either provide or 

upgrade accommodation (subsidy of 75 

per cent of a building up to a maximum 

of $50,000 available); purchase and fitout 

rescue vehicles (maximum subsidy 

of $15,000 available); or purchase office 

equipment required for effective SES 

operations (maximum subsidies of $750 

or $500, depending on equipment being 

purchased). 

The 2007-08 funding round for the SES 

Subsidy Program will close on December 

15, 2006. Application forms and program 

guidelines can be obtained from the 

Disaster Management, LGAQ and SES 

Volunteer portals. 

The NDMP is a federal funding 

opportunity assisting with identifying and 

addressing natural disaster risk priorities 

across Australia. 

The next round of funding, opening 

in November 2006, will include funds 

previously available through the 

Regional Flood Mitigation Program. 

To date, 178 Queensland projects have 

received approval for Commonwealth 

Government funds of $8.809 million 

under the NDMP. 

This has resulted in projects including 

natural disaster risk management 

studies, storm tide studies, structural 

works for flood and bushfire mitigation, 

community awareness strategies, 

warning systems and other related 

mitigation measures. 


In brief 

Variety Bash 

Firefighters Nigel Jones, Ian Moore 

and David Lloyd recently completed 

their 4000km journey from Cairns to 

Birdsville as part of the 2006 Variety 

Queensland Bash. 

Raising money for sick, disabled and 

disadvantaged children, some 500 

people visited small towns along the 

way and managed to raise money for 

a worthy cause. QFRS sponsored the 

firefighters, who completed the trip 

in an old day pumper. 

Genuine hardship 

Firefighters can access funds left by 

Olga Wilson who passed away on 

August 13, 1997. 

The Olga Wilson Firefighters Trust 

provides a benefit for firefighters 

for: “the support, maintenance, 

education, advancement, medical, 

surgical, convalescent assistance 

and accommodation, and/or general 

benefit of all past and present 

members (and their families) of 

the Queensland Fire Service and all 

Queensland Fire Brigades, (including 

volunteers of the brigade).” 

Requests to access this trust can be 

submitted to the Commissioner’s 

Staff Officer as the Secretary of the 

Trust. A committee will have the final 

decision on whether the funding will 

be granted. For more information 

contact Chantelle Marsh on 

07 3247 8075. 

Scrap round-up 

The Smorgon Steel Great Scrap 

Round-Up has now raised more 

than $500,000 for volunteer fire 

brigades throughout Australia, with 

Queensland having raised the most 

money thus far. 

The campaign, which involves 

Smorgon Steel collecting almost any 

scrap metal lying around, recently 

began rolling out phase four in 

Queensland areas. As part of the 

campaign Smorgon donates 

$15 per tonne to a nominated 

volunteer Rural Fire Brigade. 

For more information check 

www.scrap.org.au. 

QFRS training a 

lifesaver for miners 

When a water carrier at Broadmeadow 

Mine in Central Queensland 

overturned and caught fire, trapping 

the driver, the mine crews swung into 

action using Incident Management 

Systems provided by QFRS. 

As a result of the training, provided by 

Training and Emergency Management 

(TEM) in the QFRS Central Region, mine 

crews managed the incident and freed 

the driver who was transported to 

hospital with second- and third-degree 

burns to 40 per cent of his body. 

According to Dave Carter from 

Broadmeadow Mine, the training 

provided by QFRS assisted them to 

manage the incident in an efficient 

manner that ensured all facets of the 

incident were covered. 

The driver is reported to be recovering 

well from the incident. 

According to the TEM Central Region 

Manager, Eddie Lacko, the Incident 

Management System training has now 

A view of Broadmeadow mine. 

been provided to six mines in the region. 

“TEM in this region has been providing 

training in the form of Incident 

Management or AIIMS to a number of 

mines throughout Central Queensland, 

including Mines Rescue,” Eddie said. 

“We spent time working with staff at 

Broadmeadow Mine earlier this year 

and when a recent incident occurred, 

they were able to be at the forefront of 

incident management. 

“Recently I returned to the mine to 

provide further assistance in the form 

of an exercise based on the previous 

incident to further test Broadmeadow’s 

capability as Queensland Mines 

inspectors were about to conduct an 

accreditation exercise at the mine. 

“As mines throughout Central 

Queensland become committed to 

broadening their capabilities in the area 

of incident management, TEM Central 

will continue to assist with training of 

the Queensland Mines Rescue Service.” 

Area Director Eddie Lacko with Broadmeadow Mine personnel who have received training in 

Incident Management System from QFRS. 


China exercise tests USAR capability 

The push for a worldwide 

benchmark in Urban 

Search and Rescue (USAR) 

techniques took another 

step forward in China 

recently. 

QFRS Area Director Peter 

Dawson was one of two 

Australians to participate 

in the International Search 

and Rescue Advisory Group 

(INSARAG) Urban Search and 

Rescue Asia-Pacific exercise 

in Shijizahuang, China. 

The exercise, held during 

August, was designed 

to develop and foster 

benchmark search and 

rescue techniques in rescue 

organisations throughout 

the world. 

Peter was chosen after the 

Commonwealth Attorney- 

General’s Department and 


Australia requested that 

a representative be sent 

from QFRS. 

The purpose of the exercise 

was to practice international 

coordination methodology 

in accordance with the 

INSARAG guidelines, with 

a focus on cooperation 

between national and 

international disaster 

managers and response 

agencies. 

“The highlight of my time 

at the exercise was being 

involved in the process of 

disaster management at 

such a high international 

level,” Peter said. 

SES Week 2006 approaching 

Preparations for SES Week 2006 

(November 11-18) are in full 

swing throughout Queensland, and 

everyone involved with the SES is 

encouraged to be part of the week’s 

celebrations. 

The week provides an opportunity 

for the community to recognise the 

great work of SES volunteers and a 

perfect chance to promote important 

community safety initiatives. 

“It was also an amazing 

opportunity to network 

and exchange ideas with 

emergency response 

managers from all over 

the world.” 

The United Nations 

Disaster Assessment 

Coordination team 

also set up an on-site 

Operations Coordination 

Centre to assist with 

a practical scenario of 

a major earthquake 

occurring in China. 

Delegates assisted as a 

skeleton international 

Urban Search and Rescue 

team and explored the 

issues that would arise 

should such a disaster 

occur. 

Peter said the learning 

and information he 

received during the 

exercise would be 

provided in a report 

to the Department of 

Foreign Affairs and Trade, 


Australia and QFRS. 

“The exercise was a 

resounding success in 

testing and developing 

the international 

coordination, 

cooperation and 

collaboration protocols 

that would be essential 

in the successful 

management of a 

major disaster of 

such international 

magnitude,” Peter said. 

“My participation has 

allowed me to return home 

with a greater understanding 

and with recommendations 

for how we need to address 

the planning for a major 

disaster. 

“Overall I believe the exercise 

will assist in QFRS planning 

A new initiative being trialled for the 

first time this year is ‘Wear Orange 

to Work Day’ on November 13, when 

SES volunteers will be encouraged to 

wear their orange uniform to work (or 

wherever else they’re going) to increase 

exposure of the SES. 

Regional award ceremonies will also be 

held throughout the week, and winners 

will automatically be nominated for 

State awards, which will be presented 

as well as in reviewing our 

current practices in terms of 

what works and what could 

be done better. 

“I hope that with the 

passing on of my 

experiences at this exercise, 

our USAR capability will only 

continue to improve.” 

at an award ceremony in Brisbane 

on November 19. 

Individual groups and units are also 

encouraged to hold community events, 

demonstrations or open days during 

the week. 

An SES Week media kit will be arriving 

at units around Queensland soon to 

help promote local activities. 

For further information contact EMQ 

Media on 07 3830 5699. 


Maroochydore farewells John Hall 

Intensive Care Paramedic (ICP) John 

Hall retired from the Queensland 

Ambulance Service recently following 

34 years of outstanding service. 

Staff from the Maroochydore station, 

the North Coast Region and the Ipswich 

Area joined with John and his family 

to celebrate his time with the QAS and 

Queensland Ambulance Transport 

Brigade (QATB). 

Maroochydore ICP Tom Galvin said 

John had been an inspiration to many 

and his humility, dignity, compassion 

and outstanding patient care was an 

example and inspiration to all. 

“At a time in their career when most 

people are thinking of winding 

down and preparing for retirement, 

John started the QAS Intensive Care 

Paramedic Program in 1998,” Tom said. 

“With his usual calm demeanour he 

once again handled this challenge 

with great aptitude and worked in this 

position until his retirement. 

Roy calls it a day after 41 years 

Four decades is a long time, 

especially when you’ve worn 

the same uniform the entire time. 

After 41-years, QAS Patient 

Transport Officer (PTO) Roy 

Entermann called it a day at 

the end of August. 

“John mentored many students for 

their final panel examinations at both 

the Intensive Care and Advanced Care 

level. Many officers have credited a 

large part of their success at panel 

exams to the practical strategies and 

advice that John dispensed. 

“John was naturally a quiet and 

private person, and would usually 

only offer his opinion if asked or he 

thought it was relevant, but this advice 

was always fair, thoughtful and well 

considered.” 

John started his career with the then 

QATB in Ipswich in 1972 and was the 

Deputy Superintendent until he moved 

to the Sunshine Coast in 1991. 

A common theme at John’s farewell 

was the significant contribution that 

he has made to the QAS and the 

Queensland community at large. 

“John had left some mighty big boots 

to fill, he is the best paramedic on the 

Sunshine Coast bar none,” Tom said. John Hall 

Roy served as a PTO stationed at 

Oxley and Kenmore in Brisbane. 

Before that he was employed as a 

member of the representative staff 

with QATB Brisbane. 

Celebrating his 70th birthday earlier 

this year, Roy described his role 

with the QAS providing 

specialist transportation 

as a daily privilege. 

An informal morning tea 

with presentations and 

acknowledgements marked 

his retirement. 

In attendance were colleagues 

who first worked with Roy 

20 years ago. He was most 

surprised however to arrive back 

from his final job to find his wife 

and six children there for the 

occasion, to ‘escort him off the 

premises’. 

Roy said he had great faith in the 

next generation of QAS officers. 

“I am amazed at their keenness. 

They really are a great bunch,” 

he said. 

He also acknowledged his 

employer, thanking the QAS for 

feeding, clothing and educating 

his children, paying off his house 

and holidays. 

Everyone at the QAS wishes Roy 

a happy retirement. 


Harrold’s handy with a spanner 

EMQ Helicopter Rescue’s Brad Harrold 

(pictured above) certainly knows his 

way around a toolbox. 

The Townsville-based Rescue Crew Officer 

has recently qualified as a Licensed 

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME), 

after more than four years of disciplined, 

expensive and self-directed study. 

“I’ve always had an interest in the 

mechanical side of helicopters,” said 

Brad, a Fitter and Turner by trade who 

made a habit of assisting the aviation 

engineer at the Townsville base 

Baby’s arrival catches all by surprise 

Baby Krystal-Jane was coming quickly and 

nothing was going to stop her, not even 

the location. 

The Rockhampton baby was born in the back of 

an ambulance, much to the surprise – and delight 

– of paramedics Brad Hardy and Tony Crane. 

Mother Cathy Dumesny dialed triple-zero (000) 

from her caravan park cabin after her contractions 

increased to just one minute apart. 

“We knew we had to move quickly,” Brad said. 

“We got to her cabin and took her straight to the 

ambulance. As soon as we were in the back, her water 

broke and within one minute the baby popped out. 

“It caught us by surprise – it was my first delivery 

in a car.” 

whenever he got the chance. 

“After a while, he said that if I was 

going to be helping out so much, 

I might as well start a log book of 

the jobs I was doing.” 

Keeping meticulous records of his 

supervised experience and spending 

hours trawling through thick textbooks 

in preparation for exams is nothing 

short of impressive – particularly 

on top of a full-time workload as a 

Rescue Crew Officer. 

“Brad is a great example of someone 

who has embraced personal and 

professional development,” proud 

colleague John Chate said. 

“He’s managed to pass all the written 

subjects to become a maintenance 

engineer and all the while has 

maintained his qualifications as a 

Rescue Crew Officer – that’s pretty 

noteworthy.” 

Brad was a little more humble: “It was 

good to finally achieve a goal that I’d 

had for a while but I guess it just means 

I’ll be a handy person to have around.” 

Brad Hardy, Cathy Dumesny and Tony Krane celebrate baby Krystal-Jane’s safe 

arrival. Photo by Tara Croser, Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. 


10 things you didn’t know about… 

The Urban Pumper Tanker Light 

The Urban Pumper Tanker Light is among the newest vehicles in the QFRS fleet. It is designed with a mixture of 

capabilities from both QFRS urban and QFRS rural vehicles. Ten vehicles were originally manufactured, modified and 

released earlier this year for use around the fringes of towns and cities. The vehicles also have a taskforce capability. 

1. The Urban Pumper Tanker Light, codenamed Echo, is 

designed to protect the community from wildfires in 

an urban-rural interface (iZone) region, where bush or 

grassland meets the fringes of cities and towns. 

2. The Urban Pumper Tanker Light is a reliable compact 

appliance that is adaptable to changing QFRS/RFS 

operational needs, caused by the spread of population 

into iZone regions. 

3. The cab chassis has seating for operational personnel 

with seat belts for each position. 

4. The cab chassis incorporates all of the latest safety 

features and pollution controls for the crew’s and the 

public’s safety, in compliance with Australian Design 

Rules and workplace, health and safety. 

5. Equipment carried includes two drip torches, a standpipe 

and adaptor, two rake hoes, two collapsible knapsacks, 

wail-and-yelp siren with 100-watt speaker, three 

entrapment blankets, a beacon bar, Proteck 360 nozzle, 

two case-three spanners and a fire blanket. 

6. The body is all aluminium with a rear-mounted pump, 

and the provision to store personal protective equipment. 

7. Hoses included are a 30m x 19mm Low Pressure Hose 

and a 60m x 12mm Ultra High Pressure Hose. 

8. The vehicle has a tank capacity of 1000 litres, the 

provision to attach a class-A, 20-litre foam tank. 

9. The engine is a Mitsubishi (Euro 3) four-stroke direct 

injection turbo charged engine – rated at 103kw (149 HP) 

at 2100 rpm or 365nm of torque at 1600 rpm. 

10. The red and yellow colours and design reflect its ability 

to operate in both urban and rural areas. 

Jon Emberg 

Job title Student Paramedic 

Location Mareeba 

Years of service Five months with QAS, firefighter for 

10 years with QFRS 

Best part of your job The opportunity to assist people when 

they need help and the incredible 

variation of jobs – they are as varied and 

individual as people are. I also enjoy 

being a member of a great team at the 

Mareeba Ambulance Station. 

Last book you read Executive Action by Tom Clancy 

Dream holiday Solomon Islands 

Favourite movie The Italian Job 

Favourite music Loud! 

Favourite sports team North Queensland Cowboys 


Success as Stephen sails the ocean blue 

Few would be surprised by the fact 

that easygoing Stephen Young is 

just as comfortable sailing through the 

ocean swell as he is steering meetings 

in the Kedron Park boardroom. 

But the EMQ Deputy Executive Director 

recently had his nautical skills put 

to the test when he took part in the 

Queensland Government South Pacific 

Boomerang Series – an inaugural 

collection of yachting races held in 

the harbours and oceans of the 

South Pacific. 

“It was probably one of the toughest 

things I’ve done, from an endurance 

perspective,” Stephen said. 

“I’ve been sailing for over 20 years, 

but this was my first serious ocean 

racing venture and the conditions 

were pretty tough.” 

Stephen joined his brother, the Acting 

General Manager for the Victorian 

Metropolitan Ambulance Service, and 

four others on Yoko, a 53-foot yacht 

owned by friend Robin Hewitt, who 

Stephen described as “one of the 

most experienced skippers in the 

world and a legend of ocean racing”. 

Stephen took part in two of the four 

races in the series, one of which was 

the highly competitive Port Vila to 

Mackay Ocean Yacht Race. 

Sailing from the tropical islands of 

Vanuatu to the tropical islands of 

Queensland may sound like a holiday 

to some, but according to Stephen it 

was tough work. 

“It was really hard for the first five days 

because we had 20-knot winds that 

were gusting up to 50 knots which is 

equal to about 100 kilometres an hour,” 

he said. 

“Initially I shared the helming but 

when the seas became too large and 

the winds too strong I gladly handed 

over the steering duties to Robin and 

my brother.” 

But through the rough winds and giant 

swells, Stephen Young and the Yoko 

crew managed to sail the 1200 nautical 

miles faster than any other yacht on 

corrected time – making them the 

inaugural Performance Handicap Division 

winners of the Port Vila to Mackay Ocean 

Yacht Race and the series as a whole. 

It took them just six days, 21 hours and 27 

minutes to sail across a stretch of ocean 

that equates to two times the length of 

the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. 

“It was a pretty special experience, and 

the finish was actually quite emotional,” 

Stephen said. 

“Nothing beats the jubilation of being 

out there in the middle of nowhere, 

pitting yourself against the elements 

– and winning. Especially with your 

brother.” 


Clinical challenge 

By Drew Hebbron, Acting Senior Clinical Educator 

The time is 08:00 and you 

have been dispatched to the 

main platform at Central Station 

in Brisbane for a female patient 

complaining of lethargy, fatigue and 

light-headedness. 

On arrival at Central, it is apparent 

you have arrived mid-peak hour with 

thousands of commuters making 

their way to and from the station. 

Your patient is found beside the 

platform servicing the north-eastern 

area of Brisbane with a Queensland 

Rail Security Officer in attendance. 

The Security Officer states the 

patient was observed trying to board 

the train with her bags, walking with 

an unsteady gait, having obvious 

difficulty in breathing and profuse 

diaphoresis. 

She was assisted by security to a 

bench seat where she is presently 

located. 

The patient is female, mid 20s and 

appears to be of Asian descent. 

She is only able to communicate 

in broken English and has obvious 

extreme dyspnoea. She also has a 

fairly constant productive cough. 

Upon questioning, the patient is 

able to indicate she has felt unwell 

for several days and indicates 

her condition has been gradually 

getting worse. 

She states further that she has 

experienced diahorrea for the 

last five days. 

When asked about seeking medical 

aid, the patient states she has not. 

You are able to ascertain she has 

been here visiting family from her 

homeland of Indonesia for the 

past eight days and is returning 

home today. 

Her usual occupation at home is 

working on her family’s farm. She 

states she began feeling unwell 

a couple of days after arriving in 

Brisbane. 

She states she came from a hot 

humid climate into Brisbane’s winter. 

She states she has not been around 

any other people displaying signs of 

illness and says she has no allergies 

and is currently on no medication. 

Her VSS is as follows: 

Pulse – 160 

BP – 110/60 

RR 50 – shallow/rapid 

SpO2 – 95% RA 

ECG – Sinus Tachy @ 160BPM 

BSL – 5.4mmol 

Chest Auscultation – Congestion and 

“wet” chest sounds with crackles 

widespread bi-laterally 

GCS – 14 

Temp – 39.5C 

General Observations – patient is 

thin, and short in stature, appears 

generally pale and diaphoretic. 

The patient complains further of 

general aches and pains shortly 

before she appears to lose balance 

on her seat and falls unconscious. 

Her respirations, while still present, 

appear to be becoming more and 

more laboured. 

A head to toe examination reveals 

nothing significant. 

Oxygen therapy has no effect and 

your patient’s condition remains 

unchanged en-route to hospital. 

Questions 

1. What is your provisional 

diagnosis for this patient? 

2. Is there anything about this 

patient’s condition that strikes 

you as unusual? 

3. What procedures/treatment 

regimes would you instigate? 

September 

Challenge 

answers 

By David Couper, QAS Paramedic 

What is the cause of this 

patient’s presentation? 

This injury is called wrist 

neuropathy or handlebar palsy. 

What is the aeitology of that 

cause? 

Wrist neuropathy is the irritation 

and associated inflammation of 

a nerve as it crosses the wrist 

joint. In this case the Ulnar 

nerve is affected, resulting in 

numbness of the small and ring 

finger and Median nerve with 

numbness of the remaining 

fingers and thumb. 

Other activities that involve 

repetitive movements of 

the wrist may cause Ulnar 

neuropathy, such as using a 

computer mouse or typing. It 

may also occur from an injury 

to your elbow. 

Other causes of Ulnar 

neuropathy at or distal to the 

wrist (ie at Guyon canal) include: 

ganglionic cysts; tumours; blunt 

injuries with or without fracture; 

aberrant artery and idiopathic. 

What is the management of 

this patient? 

Rest, consider use of a sling and 

referral to a physiotherapist. 

Document in detail all motor and 

sensory impairment. 

Most importantly, the cyclist 

needs to have his bike set up 

evaluated by a bike professional. 


station 

The walk across the vehicle bay of the 

Townsville Fire Station, through the 

station’s fleet, is standard for most 

large fire stations, until you come 

across an old Denis fire appliance. 

After working the streets of Townsville 

between 1932 and 1969 it was left to 

rust for 30 years before it was restored 

by firefighters and returned to duty. 

“It gets turned out for parades and 

Santa makes use of it a couple of 

times a year,” Townsville Station 

Officer Chris Birnie said. 

Further along, at the entrance to the 

station offices, is a glass cabinet with 

brass helmets dating back to the early 

years of last century, along with those 

from visiting firefighters from across 

the globe. Townsville is a station 

steeped in tradition. 

Just a few minutes from the famed 

North Queensland coastal strip, known 

as The Strand, is the Townsville Fire 

Complex. 

One corner of the tightly grouped 

complex, houses the QFRS Northern 

Region FireCom, Community Safety 

office and training rooms, while across 

the vehicle bay is home to Townsville’s 

firefighters and Regional Commercial 

Training unit. 

The complex was commissioned in 

January 1973, and replaced the old 

station in Walker St, which was in use 

for 48 years – built in 1925 – and has 

since been demolished. 

Since then they’ve seen all types come 

through Townsville, including QFRS 

Commissioner Lee Johnson who began 

his career there. 

profile 

Townsville Fire Station 

More recently, one person who has 

decided to stay is Station Officer Ewan 

Cayzer, who was on shift during 

Emergency’s recent visit. 

Ewan moved to Townsville in July 2005 

after a career with the Country Fire 

Authority in Victoria. 

“The climate is different but the fire 

service is the fire service,” Ewan said. 

“There’s were some changes in 

terminology, which caused a few people 

to scratch their heads when I first 

arrived but we all have the same 

objectives, goals and ambitions in our 

role. Moving to Queensland certainly 

wasn’t hard to adjust operationally.” 

The Townsville Fire Station is the largest 

of four stations in the Townsville area. It 

runs two operational crews – one crew 

of four to operate the regular pumper 

and another crew of two to mobilise the 

special appliances. 

The special appliance vehicles include 

a Technical Rescue appliance and 

Operational Support Unit appliance. 

“We also provide HazMat and 

operational management or command 

support to the surrounding district,” 

Ewan said. 

“The Technical Rescue appliance is on 

stand-by to respond throughout the 

Northern Region.” 

Motor vehicle accidents and structural 

fires made up just over one-third of the 

station’s 1201 jobs in 2005-06, with 

unwanted false alarms also a major 

contributor. 

Although only a minimum of structural 

fires occur in this environment, they 

always bring challenges, such as the 

recent McDonalds’ fire in the heart of 

the local mall. 

“It was not a big fire as such, but was 

in the roof space of a mall on a Sunday 

afternoon. It just happened to be in 

a prominent place,” Ewan said. 

Other major incidents in the station’s 

history include a structural fire at the 

old courthouse in 1998; Hayles second 

hand in 1994; and the Bulk sugar shed 

fire in 1963. 

The largest HazMat incident in recent 

years was the derailment of a train after a 

collision with a semi-trailer. The truck was 

carrying lime and the train was carrying 

a large quantity of sulphuric acid. It took 

crews working 12-hour shifts eight days 

to neutralise and clean up the spill. 

And for those who were wondering, the 

old Denis wasn’t on stand-by for turnout 

during that time. 

Station snapshot 

Townsville Fire Station 

2-8 Morey Street, Townsville 

Resources: 

• 4 x 4 Grassfire Unit 

• Emergency Tender 

• Operational Support Unit 

• Scania Heavy Pumper 

• Technical Rescue Vehicle 

Job Sheet 

• 2004/5 – 1082 (226 structural fires, 

124 motor vehicle accidents) 

• 2005/6 – 1201 (195 structural fires, 

220 motor vehicle accidents) 


Station Officer Andrew Sturgess and Senior Firefighters Gilda Di Felice, 

Greg Newbury and Ian Skyring. 

Perspiration and precipitation: 

Kokoda Challenge 06 

By Senior Firefighter Ian Skyring 

After reading Ian Tucker’s article 

in the September 2005 edition of 

Emergency magazine about his team 

of Gold Coast paramedics taking on the 

Kokoda Challenge, I thought why not give 

it a go to see if I still have what it takes? 

After all, I turned 50 within days of the 

2006 challenge. 

Just to recap, if you didn’t read Ian’s 

article, the Kokoda Challenge is a 96kilometre 

walk (the distance from 

Kokoda to Port Moresby), to be 

completed in 39 hours by teams of four 

– all starting and finishing together. 

The challenge starts at Mudgeeraba 

Showgrounds on the Gold Coast and 

travels through various State forests, 

circles Hinze Dam and finishes at Nerang. 

There are 13 checkpoints along the way, 

six of which are major checkpoints 

where support crews can meet you to 

assist with water, food and clothing. 

The challenge is a charity event, the 

main function being to sponsor young 

Australians going to Papua New Guinea 

to walk the Kokoda Track. 

Eight-six teams lined up for the start at 

07:00 on July 15. Just as the starter’s 

gun sounded, so did the rain. 

Our team, The Redland Firefighters, 

consisted of Greg Newbury, Gilda Di 

Felice, Andrew Sturgess and myself. 

We has been training together for six 

months in the bush around Redlands 

and sections of the actual course, so 

we were confident of finishing together 

close to our goal time of 30 hours. 

We started off at an easy pace, 

travelling through the Mudgeeraba 

State Forest and winding our way along 

creek beds before giving our thighs a 

major workout over Mt Fairview. 

At the first major checkpoint at 15km we 

were met by our land crew – Arnold and 

Avis Eggins – who had a shelter set up 

(yes, it was still raining), and everything 

on hand for us. 

Arnold is a retired Brisbane fire officer 

and is a real character. He and Avis 

walked the Kokoda Track in 2005 at age 

68. Avis’s claim to fame is that she is 

the oldest white woman to have walked 

the track. 

With promises of “we’ll see you guys 

at the finish line tomorrow”, they then 

handed over the land crew duties to 

Simon Johnstone, who was to look after 

us throughout the night. 

We were now in a long unaided section 

of about six hours. Spirits were very 

high at this stage, although we were 

still getting regular showers, and all 

those long hours of training were 

paying off. 

We were all feeling good and glad to 

be finally out on the course ticking off 

the kilometres. 

The major climb is this section was 

Mt Nimmel. These climbs were between 

25 and 40 minutes up steep trails. 

I purchased two walking sticks/ski 

poles, which was money well spent 

as they helped to take the weight off 

knees and thighs. 

Just as the sun was setting we arrived 

at Polly’s Kitchen to be met by Simon 

and his mobile aid station. 

For the next 20 hours Simon treated us 

like royalty. Chairs and tables set up, 

food cooked, coffee made, the list goes 

on. Any request met, no matter what. 

We were given some advice before 

the event by the organiser – that good 

land crews make good teams. How right 

he was. Thanks again Simon, Avis 

and Arnold. 


Night was now upon us, so it was on 

with the LED headlamps, stay close 

together, up the next mountain, along 

the ridge, then down to the valley for 

the next checkpoint. 

This was the routine all night long as 

we trudged and slipped through the 

mud. More than two inches of rain 

fell on us that night. 

By dawn we had just finished a 

slippery two-kilometre descent, 

which was followed by another 

thigh-busting climb over Mt Nathan 

to breakfast of pancakes and coffee. 

The final 15km through the Nerang 

State Forest, although only undulating 

fire trails, proved to be very gruelling. 

My feet were giving me trouble and 

Andrew’s and Greg’s knees were 

causing them concern. Only Gilda 

seemed unscathed from the night’s 

events as we tackled the few final 

kilometres together. 

But as all journeys have a beginning 

and an end, at 11:44 on Sunday, so 

did ours finish. To the cheers of 

well-wishers, family and friends, 

we finished the Kokoda Challenge 

in 28 hours and 44 minutes. 

Each team member will remember 

the event in different ways. I will 

always remember the spirit in which 

Gilda, Andrew and Greg challenged 

themselves to finish as a team and 

the faith they had in me to see 

it through. 

For those readers interested in 

statistics, of the 86 teams that 

started, 33 finished as a team of 

four, of which we were 27th. The 

completion rate gives some indication 

of how difficult the challenge is. 

Our special thanks go to Area Director 

Col Hartley, who provided assistance, 

and to our sponsor Fire Fighting 

Enterprises for their t-shirts. 

Also a big thank you to the 

Mudgeeraba rurals for allowing 

us the use of their facilities over 

the weekend. 

We’ve had some great photographic entries for our Reader Competition 

so far this year, but unfortunately haven’t had the space to print many of 

them until now. This month we feature two great shots from one of Emergency’s 

regular photographic contributors, freelancer Mark Cross. They are part of a 

series of images taken during a recent bush fire at Bald Hills in Brisbane’s 

northern suburbs (others appears on our cover and page 6). You can check 

out more of Mark’s work at his hobby website: www.firefighters.com.au. 

Win a Whitsunday Getaway 

Emergency Magazine, in conjunction 

with the Queensland Police Credit 

Union is giving away two holidays as 

part of our Reader Competition. 

All you have to do is send us your best 

stories (1000-word limit) and photographs 

and you’ll be in with a chance to win. 

Post entries to: 

Emergency Magazine 

DES Public Affairs and 

Communications Unit 

GPO Box 1425 

Brisbane 4001, or email: 

editor@emergency.qld.gov.au

Photo by Michael Marston - Department of Emergency Services ...

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