EMBARGOED - Ambulance Week: Northern medal winners honoured at awards ceremony

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts has paid tribute to five Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) officers who have collectively served for almost a century.

Mr Roberts presented the QAS personnel with long-service medals at Northern Region’s ‘Star Care Awards’ in Townsville as part of Ambulance Week.

Townsville paramedic Eddie Blain received the 45 year service medal, while Peter Kerkhoffs, Michael Friis, Matthew Bolton and Regional Ambulance Educator Robert Shillam were all honoured with awards for 10 years of service.

Mr Roberts congratulated the group for their hard-work and dedication.

“Every day the efforts of officers like Eddie, Peter, Michael, Matthew and Robert help make QAS the world-class service it is,’’ Mr Roberts said.

“For Eddie, 45 years caring for his local community is an impressive milestone in anyone’s books.

“I’d like to congratulate them all for their longstanding and continuing work to provide world-class care and dedicated service for Queenslanders in the north.

“Ambulance Week is a celebration of the dedication and professionalism of QAS paramedics, staff and volunteers.

“This is reflected in this year’s National Satisfaction Survey of ambulance services which showed that the QAS had earned a satisfaction rating of 99 per cent from the people best able to express an opinion – the patients we deal with.

“The Bligh Government is committed to providing a first-class ambulance service.

“A record budget of $455 million, an increase of more than $53 million on 2007-08, includes funding for 250 additional ambulance officers and 145 new ambulances.

“That’s on top of the 255 extra officers and 140 new vehicles funded in 2007-08.”

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                      Brendan Connell    0437 837 976