Queensland Ambulance Roll Of Honour
A roll of care and dedication shown by those who have passed from 1911 to Current.
ROLL OF HONOUR
From as early as 1900 our ambulance staff has been acknowledged for the part they have played in the daily roles with Queensland Ambulance Service.
Below is a list of those we remember and who showed the highest level of dedication.
Thomas Walter TREACY
Superintendent – Charters Towers – 14.05.1911
Thomas Treacy served as an ambulance officer in Brisbane and Charters Towers. He led the ambulance response in 1904 when the Brilliant P C mine exploded, killing 7 miners and a further 60 miners were brought to the surface suffering from the effects of noxious fumes. Thomas was in robust health up until his attendance at the mine explosion. Thomas resigned in 1908 due to ill-health and passed away aged 44 years.
William ROOKWOOD
Superintendent – Pomona – 19.12.1920
William Rookwood commenced his career as an ambulance officer serving at Brisbane and Pomona. In 1920 after pushing a patient by litter from Pomona to Gympie and then back to Pomona he became ill. William was taken by the first available train to Gympie and admitted to hospital and was transferred to Brisbane where he died within a few days.
Edgar VON ALPEN
Superintendent – Ingham – 11.02.1927
Edgar Von Alpen served at Dalby, Southport, Atherton, Innisfail, and Ingham. Whilst attempting to rescue a family during the Great Northern Floods in the Herbert River at Ingham, Edgar’s boat capsized and he drowned.
John Alexander JOHNSTON
Superintendent – Gordonvale – 01.07.1930
John Johnston commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1903 and served at Charters Towers, Cairns, Innisfail, and Gordonvale. He attended the Brilliant P C mine explosion at Charters Towers and the Mt Mulligan Mine explosion. John passed away after contracting an illness attributed to both
mining incidents.
Vivian ANDERSON
Ambulance Officer – Ingham – 03.11.1939
Viv Anderson was stationed at Ingham and whilst taking a patient to the hospital the ambulance rolled. Viv died instantly.
George COOK
Ambulance Officer – Brisbane – 24.12.1947
George Cook served at Brisbane for 28 years. George was one of four people that died on Christmas Eve in 1947 following an explosion at a produce store on Petrie Terrace, Brisbane. George was entering the store with a fellow officer to rescue injured people when he received the full blast from a second explosion. George was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Medal.
Colin AHERN
Ambulance Officer – Bundaberg – 08.10.1951
Colin Ahern commenced his career in December 1950 serving at Bundaberg. Colin was transporting a patient home from the Mater Hospital in Bundaberg when the ambulance vehicle overturned as a result of a collision with another vehicle. Colin was killed instantly and aged 23 years.
Dick Sheppard BAMPTON
Pilot – Cairns – 26.10.1953
Captain Dick Bampton was a Cairns Aerial Ambulance pilot. Dick swam for half-an-hour with both legs badly smashed before he drowned after his Aerial Ambulance crashed into the sea off the North Queensland coast near Hinchinbrook Island.
Edward McCAFFREY
Ambulance Officer – Brisbane – 05.11.1956
Edward McCaffery commenced in 1926 and served at Brisbane. Edward was granted leave by the ambulance service during World War 2 and resumed his position in 1945 at Brisbane. Edward died on duty aged 59 years.
Edward McLEOD
Pilot – Rockhampton – 07.06.1958
Edward McLeod was an aerial ambulance pilot serving at Rockhampton. Edward was piloting the aircraft when it crashed on a flight from Alpha to Rockhampton. Edward died on duty and was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Medal.
James TRANENT
Ambulance Officer – Rockhampton – 07.06.1958
James Tranent was an Ambulance Officer serving at Rockhampton. James was on his first flight along with Pilot Edward McLeod when they crashed at Edungalba, 18km east of Duaringa. James died on duty aged 45 years and was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Medal.
Patrick William MULLANEY
Superintendent – Clermont – 28.12.1958
Patrick Mullaney commenced in 1913 serving at Mt Morgan and Clermont. Patrick whilst “on-call” and dressed ready for work when he collapsed and was taken to hospital by fellow ambulance officers. Patrick died several hours later.
Frederick BARRAM
Superintendent – Rosewood – 18.04.1961
Frederick Barram commenced as a supernumerary (First Responder) in 1939 serving at Ipswich and Rosewood. Fred suffered a heart attack whilst on duty.
Norman Kenneth CAMPBELL
Ambulance Officer – Bundaberg – 16.12.1961
Norman Campbell commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer at Bundaberg in 1931. Norman died in his sleep whilst on night duty.
William Stanford WALLIS
Ambulance Officer – Brisbane – 06.03.1965
William Wallis commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in Brisbane in 1922. William suffered a heart attack and died on duty.
Leo James CURTIS
Ambulance Officer – Cairns – 13.08.1965
Leo Curtis commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer and served at Atherton and Cairns. Leo died suddenly on duty.
Sydney Harold PHILLIPS
Ambulance Officer – Brisbane – 25.04.1970
Sydney Phillips commenced as an Ambulance Officer at Brisbane. Sydney died on duty.
Walter HARCH
Senior Ambulance Officer – Gatton – 24.04.1970
Walter Harch commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1940 at served at Laidley and Gatton. Walter died suddenly on duty aged 58 years.
Jesmond Gordon BEAMES
Superintendent – Mareeba – 10.01.1971
Jesmond Beames commenced as an Ambulance Officer in 1948 serving at Mareeba. Jesmond died on duty aged 48 years.
Thomas Sarsfield MARESSE
Station Officer – Nundah – 06.03.1973
Thomas Maresse commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1941 and served at Bundaberg, Cooroy, and Brisbane. Tom died after a short illness aged 56 years.
Stephen HINCHY
Ambulance Officer – Brisbane – 07.12.1979
Stephen Hinchy commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1959 serving at Brisbane. Stephen suffered a heart attack whilst on duty and was aged 63 years.
Kevin GAEDTKE
Superintendent – Dirranbandi – 19.06.1980
Kevin Gaedtke commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1964 serving at Kingaroy, Theodore, Dalby, Mary Kathleen, and Dirranbandi. Kevin suffered a heart attack whilst mowing the ambulance station yard and died aged 46 years.
Ernest George NEWMAN
Honorary Ambulance Officer – Ingham – 21.01.1985
Ernest Newman was an Honorary Ambulance Officer at Ingham. Ernest was accidentally killed on duty on 21 January 1985.
Kenneth James McPHERSON
Ambulance Officer – Bundaberg – 21.06.1987
Kenneth James (Jim) McPherson was an ambulance officer serving at Bundaberg. Jim was on board an aerial ambulance transporting a critically injured patient which crashed shortly after take-off in thick fog at Bundaberg Airport. Four people lost their lives and one survived with injuries. Jim died on duty aged 27 years and was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Medal.
John NELSON
Pilot – Bundaberg – 21.06.1987
John Nelson was the pilot of the aerial ambulance transporting a critically injured patient which crashed shortly after take-off in thick fog at Bundaberg Airport. John died on duty.
Gerald Michael KENNEDY
Acting Superintendent – Injune / Roma – 19.07.1987
Gerald Kennedy commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1979 serving at Oakey, Roma, and Injune. Gerald passed away aged 57 years.
Gordon Herbert KRAUSE
Superintendent – Dayboro – 11.02.1991
Gordon Krause as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1962 serving at Murgon, Gayndah, Redlands and Dayboro. Gordon died on duty aged 57 years.
Shane William HAYES
Senior Ambulance Officer – Biggenden – 17.11.1992
Shane Hayes commenced as an ambulance officer in 1985 serving at Brisbane, Emerald and Biggenden. Shane died whilst attending a training course aged 35 years.
Debra Jean WILLIAMS
Ambulance Officer – Bamaga – 01.03.1995
Debra Williams commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1981 and served at Thursday Island, Cairns, and Bamaga. Whilst on an in-service training course at Townsville she became ill and admitted to hospital. Debra passed away aged 34 years.
Shann Nicole (Galovic) HAMILTON
Ambulance Officer – Maroochydore – 08.04.1999
Shann Hamilton commenced as an Ambulance Officer in 1991 and served at Brisbane and Maroochydore. Shann died on duty aged 31 years.
Douglas John (Bill) BIRCH
Ambulance Officer – Rockhampton – 24.07.2000
Douglas Birch commenced his career in 1983 as an Ambulance Officer at Rockhampton. Bill was on board a rescue helicopter that crashed at Marlborough and all five occupants received fatal injuries. Bill served for 17 years.
Craig STAINES
Ambulance Officer – Rockhampton – 24.07.2000
Craig Staines commenced as a Cadet Ambulance Officer in 1988 at Rockhampton. Craig was on board a rescue helicopter that crashed at Marlborough and all five occupants received fatal injuries. Craig was an Intensive Care Paramedic and aged 32 years.
Craig LIDDINGTON
Ambulance Officer – Mackay – 17.10.2003
Craig Liddington was an Intensive Care Paramedic. Craig was on board a rescue helicopter when it crashed into the sea east of Cape Hillsborough. The three crewmen were tragically killed. Craig was aged 31 years.
Zachary LETO
Ambulance Officer – Yeppoon – 11.05.2005
Zachary Leto commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1993 served at Yeppoon, Rockhampton, and Emerald. Zac aged 48 years along with his daughter Ashley aged 3, died in a tragic motor vehicle accident on the Sunshine Coast.
Ian Charles CORNISH
Ambulance Officer – Emerald – 13.04.2015
Ian Cornish commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in 1969 at Maleny and later served at Toowoomba, Roma, Aramac, and Emerald Ambulance Stations. Ian aged 65 years passed away whilst on duty as a paramedic on 13 April 2015.
Craig Wesley McCULLOCH
Ambulance Officer – Mackay – 28.01.2019
Craig McCulloch commenced with the QAS in 2009 until 2013 as a student Paramedic, progressing to Advanced Care Paramedic. Following a break in service, in June 2018, Craig recommenced the QAS in the Mackay LASN. Craig was responding to an emergency case when the ambulance he was travelling in was involved in a car accident in which, Craig aged 32 years passed away on the scene on 28 Jan 2019.