vehicles

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

In 1948 Bundaberg honored soldiers lost in a wartime plane crash with a funeral procession and burial, attracting letters of appreciation from the Australian and United States air forces. Letters to Bundaberg Mayor of the day Alderman F.H. Buss recently rediscovered in Council’s historic archives reveal the gratitude for the service following the tragic discovery made five years after the plane was lost on 21 November 1943. According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, the soldiers were traveling on a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, christened ‘Star Duster’, and were on their way to Brisbane after collecting mail in Rockhampton. “On the last leg to Brisbane, while cruising west of Monto, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a canyon,” the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives report reads. “As the aircraft was declared missing, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended a few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.” The State Library of Queensland said the twin-engine United States Douglas Dakota transport plane had disappeared without a trace until a discovery was made in June 1948. “… a farmer found the wreckage in a gully on Magpie Station at Yarrol, in the Monto district of Queensland,” the State Library said. “The plane was carrying 4 American crewmen, 2 American military passengers, and 7 Australian military passengers.” Other parts of the wreckage would remain undiscovered for decades including the right wing which was found in 1961, about one km from the main wreckage, and other debris such as a door and stabilizer which were found in 1991. Australia @ War has published a military document relating to the crash found in NARA records, dated 29 June 1948. “The starboard motor was located 300 to 400 yards from the main wreckage, as no damage to trees was evident it appears that this motor came adrift in mid-air,” the report said. While the crash victims were unable to be identified, a moving historical image of the funeral procession held in July 1948 shows the reverence and respect with which they were treated by the Bundaberg community. The procession moved through the town area before the soldiers were laid to rest in the Bundaberg War Cemetery. The grave sites are maintained within the Bundaberg Cemetery on Takalvan Street by War Graves Australia. Source: www.bundabergnow.com/2022/05/07/wartime-plane-crash-victi...

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Thanks David - lovely to see this in colour.