New ambulance vehicle presented and local officers honoured at Ipswich

A new $190,000 ambulance vehicle was handed over and local officers honoured in a ceremony at the Ipswich Ambulance Station today.

Member for Ipswich West Wayne Wendt said the ceremony attended by Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts was in recognition of the important contribution of the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) to the Ipswich region.

“The Queensland Ambulance Service is a world-class service thanks to the dedication and professionalism of its staff, their ready access to emergency response vehicles and equipment, and the support of the local community,” Mr Wendt said.

Mr Wendt said the new F350 ambulance vehicle replaced another already in use at the station.

“It is a double stretcher vehicle that has been fitted out as a standard patient care vehicle,” he said.

The QAS Ipswich area consists of eight ambulance stations – Boonah, Ipswich, Laidley, Lowood, Raceview, Redbank, Rosewood and Toogoolawah. The Ipswich area is part of the QAS’s South Eastern region. The Government has announced plans to build a new combined replacement Ipswich and Raceview ambulance station in Ipswich.

Mr Wendt said in 2007-08, the QAS was recruiting an additional 250 ambulance officers and buying 140 new vehicles. In the South Eastern region, 31 ambulance officers would be recruited and 30 new ambulance vehicles assigned this financial year.

Mr Roberts said three local QAS officers were recognised for their service with the presentation of 10-year long service awards to Ross Emmerson and Daryl Waters of Ipswich station and Travis Richards of Lowood station.

Three officers – Melinda Thomas of Ipswich station, and Michael Bishop and Matthew Smith of Redbank station – received their Diploma of Paramedical Science Ambulance, while Seru Waqanaceva of Ipswich station received the Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport.

Bruce Gleeson received 10-year Local Ambulance Committee long service award for his service to the Laidley station.

7 December 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 0418 197 350