Twin Cities emergency services personnel honoured

Dozens of ambulance officers, firefighters and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers from the Townsville/Thuringowa region have today been honoured for their commitment to helping others.

In a ceremony at the Townsville ambulance station Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell presented 16 Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) personnel with medals for long and distinguished service.

Mr Purcell also officially handed over the keys to four new ambulance vehicles that will be used in the Twin Cities region.

In a separate ceremony at the SES headquarters in West End, Mr Purcell presented 33 SES volunteers with National Medals and SES Meritorious Service Medals.

Mr Purcell congratulated all the medal recipients on their awards. [A list of recipients is below.]

The QAS personnel receiving medals have contributed more than 230 years of service, the firefighters more than 60 years, and the SES volunteers have given more than 500 years of service.

“The officers honoured today each thoroughly deserve recognition. Their years of experience is something that cannot be replaced,” Mr Purcell said.

“It is vitally important that people who give long and faithful service to looking after the safety and wellbeing of other Queenslanders receive recognition for their efforts.

“Emergency services staff and volunteers have a vital role in the community. In conditions that are often demanding and dangerous, these people are out there helping others.

“I would like to congratulate all the medal recipients for their long and distinguished service, and for their commitment to serving their local community.”

Mr Purcell also thanked the families of volunteers and staff.

“The commitment of emergency services personnel can put a burden on family life, but the support of families helps them continue to serve the community with such distinction.”

Mr Purcell said the new ambulance vehicles would be a great addition to the response capability in the region.

“It’s important our hard-working ambulance officers have the right equipment. I’m pleased the Beattie Government is able to support our emergency services personnel by providing state-of-the-art new vehicles.”

Three of the vehicles are Ford F350 ambulance vehicles allocated to the Ayr, Townsville and Kirwan ambulance stations. Each is worth about $160,000.

The other vehicle is a Mercedes vehicle allocated to the Townsville station, and will be used by the Patient Transport Service. It is worth about $105,000 and can transport two patients in wheelchairs and four other patients.

Media contacts: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571;
Daniel Landon 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976.

Medal recipients

The National Medal recognises diligent long service in organisations that protect life and property at some risk to their members. Recipients are entitled to the National Medal after 15 years of service and a Clasp is awarded to a National Medal after each additional 10 years of service.

SES Meritorious Service Medals are awarded after 10 years of service. Clasps to the medal are awarded for each five years of service thereafter.

The QAS Long Service Medal is awarded after 10 years of service, with a clasp awarded for each 10 years of service thereafter.

State Emergency Service

SES Meritorious Service Medal – 30 years service

Stanley Parsons

James Jackson

SES Meritorious Service Medal – 25 years service

George Lean

Joyce Scorey

John Morrison

Fred Parker. Also awarded the First Clasp to the National Medal

SES Meritorious Service Medal – 20 years service

Darryl Ward

John Holmes

Murray Withers

Ken Ellis

Erik Hegge

SES Meritorious Service Medal – 15 years service

William Venn

Lynn Hyland

Christine Hamilton

Leslie Hyland

Janette Furber. Also awarded the National Medal

Robert Griffiths

Linda Venn

Christine Mackenzie

Claire Cogan

Jan Jensen

Bernard Smith

Giordano Laguna

SES Meritorious Service Medal – 10 years service

Margaret Walsh

Lindley Hingston

Catherine Ciszek

Leslie Metcalf

Lindsay Hingston

Christine Martin

Jack Cogan

Ron Hewitt

James Osborne

National Medal – 15 years service

Joseph Wallace

Queensland Ambulance Service

2^nd Clasp to National Medal – 35 years service

Les Steel,

2^nd Clasp to Long Service Medal – 30 years service

John Rintoul, Communications Centre Supervisor

1^st Clasp for National Medal – 25 years service

Doug Nordin, Communications Centre Supervisor

1^st Clasp for Long Service Medal – 20 years service

Liam Steger, Officer-in-Charge

Bob Sprake, Paramedic

National Medal – 15 years service; and 10 year Long Service Medal

Matt Green, Acting Area Director

Gordon McGurk, Communications Officer

National Medal – 15 years service

Brendan Bell, Paramedic

Phil Weber, Paramedic

Long Service Medal – 10 years service

Regional Ambulance Educator Lesley Steel

Michael Grainger, acting Clinical Support Officer

Michael Paulsen, Intensive Care Paramedic

Martin Walsh, Paramedic

Trudy Schmitzer, Paramedic

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service

1^st Clasp to the National Medal – 25 years service

Lloyd Sexton

Retirement presentation – 35 years of service

Alan Godwin