patient

Caption: Lavina Stoltzfus combing Mrs. Robertson's hair. She is a patient in the Mennonite Hospital in La Junta, Colo. 1960.

Ambulance services commenced in Ipswich on 4 November 1901, when the Brisbane Centre Committee opened a Sub-Centre there. Deputy Superintendent W.C. Tomkins was placed in charge and he was assisted by Bearer W. Armstrong and seven Honorary Bearers. The weekly wages paid to Officers Tomkins and Armstrong were £2,10s and £1,16s respectively. The Ambulance premises were situated in Down Street and the plant consisted of two Ashford litters (one kindly lent by the Ipswich Hospital Committee) and one collapsible stretcher. In 1902 a horse and sulky were added to the plant. As a consequence of increased demands made upon the Brigade, premises that had met the requirements of the staff in the past were now considered to be too small. In 1910 the Committee purchased new premises at the corner of Down and Flint Streets at a very satisfactory price. The premises were renovated and enlarged to make a comfortable and convenient Centre. The new premises were further renovated in 1911 and a plant room measuring 40 feet long by 24 feet wide was added. In that year the Committee purchased a four-wheeled wagon fitted with rubber tires for country calls and attending accidents at the various local mines. In expounding upon the value of this wagon the Chairperson in his annual report stated, ‘it is fitted with a hood, roller blinds at the sides (which can be drawn during wet weather), thoroughly ventilated, poles and shafts for one or two horses, is capable of carrying two patients on stretchers, or seven persons in sitting positions on movable seats’. In 1927 the Ipswich Committee decided to close this SubCentre and it was confident that a better service could be given from Ipswich seeing that the roads were very good. The Sub-Centre was re-opened in 1969 as an Ambulance Station and new premises were erected. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Ipswich.pdf

At a meeting held in the Bundaberg Council Chambers on Friday 6 June 1907 under the presidency of the Mayor, Ald A.E. Avenell it was decided to ascertain the views of the principal residents regarding the advisability of requesting the QATB State Executive Committee to open a Branch Centre in Bundaberg. From 29 August to 31 December 1907 officers attended to 120 patients and travelled 169 miles. The honorary staff performed 346 hours of duty. The first patient treated in the casualty room was Thos Pritchard who had sustained a puncture wound in the palm of his left hand while opening an oyster. The first ‘call out’ was in response to a request from a police officer. However, upon arrival at the Railway Station, it was found that the Brigade’s services were not required. The first donation received was from H.A. Skyring and Sons and the first contributor was Mr H.S. Skyring. The next step of progress was in 1912 when a four-wheel ambulance field wagon pulled by two horses and complete with two stretchers was acquired. The splendid service of the QATB by this time had been worthily recognized by the public of Bundaberg and the district with their most generous financial support to the extent that the Committee in 1912 decided to build a new Centre on land that had been acquired in Maryborough Street. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Bundaberg.pdf