EMBARGOED - Ambulance Week: QAS awards North’s best ambulance officers

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) today acknowledged its best-performing officers at Northern Region’s ‘Star Care Awards’.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts, QAS Deputy Commissioner Russell Bowles and Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Rodney Walz congratulated recipients of the annual awards in a ceremony at the Townsville RSL.

Mr Roberts said the Young Hero of the Year Award will be presented to eight-year-old Emmy Lou Gallagher from Normanton, who displayed maturity beyond her years recently when her mother, Shannon, suffered a hypoglycemic episode while driving.

“When attempts to wake her mother did not work, Emmy steered the vehicle while sitting on her mother’s lap to avoid a crash,” Mr Roberts said.

“Emmy tried to call for help on a mobile and radio and directed her six-year-old sister Clare to look after their younger two-year-old sister Jolee in the back seat.

"When her grandmother called on the UHF, Emmy provided location details to alert the ambulance service and followed directions to pull the gear stick into neutral and turn the headlights on.”

A Commissioner’s Commendation will also be presented to Clare for staying calm and assisting Emmy Lou.

Townsville’s Lloyd Tonkin was be named Paramedic of the Year for his exceptional professional manner, for motivating and inspiring his peers and for his commitment to personal development.

“Emergency Medical Dispatcher of the Year was presented to Janice Wootton for proactively pursuing excellence in communications and for her commitment to enhancing communications practices,” Mr Roberts said.

“Janice was also praised for her ongoing encouragement of her peers and her role as a team player.”

The Northern Region Communications Centre took out the Station of the Year award for achieving and maintaining consistent quality assurance results, for its commitment to staff welfare and for demonstrating a high standard of professional dedication to enhancing the ambulance service for the benefit of the community.

“Douglas Station Patient Transport Officer Robert Trott will be recognised for his kind and caring attitude towards patients and his peers and for his commitment to enhancing systems and the services provided by QAS,” Mr Walz said.

Awards will also be presented to: Hughenden’s Tony Dennis – Honorary Ambulance Officer of the Year; Kirwan’s Frank Gist – Local Ambulance Committee (LAC) Achiever of the year; and Fleet Coordinator Mick Hielscher – Support Officer of the year.

Mr Roberts congratulated all ambulance officers, and said the Bligh Government was committed to providing them with the resources needed to maintain their high standard of performance.

“Queensland’s ambulance officers are among the best in the country.

“The Bligh Government’s playing its part by allocating record levels of funding to the QAS. This financial year the QAS budget has increased by $53.1 million to $455.7 million.

“That means the QAS will recruit 250 additional ambulance officers and buy 145 new ambulances this financial year.

“This builds on the 255 extra officers and 140 new vehicles funded in 2007-08.”

Media Contact: Brendan Connell (Minister’s Office) - 3247 8194

Emergency Services Media - 3247 8186