Glenwood’s Ron Frame is saving lives in the small community

A former mining paramedic, who since shifting to a small Queensland town with no ambulance station has helped more than 60 people, some critical, says he’s no hero. Locals beg to differ.

For many in the small township of Glenwood, nestled between Maryborough and Gympie, Ron Frame is literally a lifeline.

The former mine paramedic moved to rural hamlet for the quiet life earlier this year but before long, the needs of those in his community became apparent.

With paramedics and a hospital 40 minutes away in either direction in the event of the emergency, Mr Frame knew his skills could be of great help.

In June, Mr Frame took to social media, asking people to reach out if they were ever in need.

For minor health issues, he could provide assistance and support and for major emergencies, he knew he could make a difference as a first responder while waiting for ambulance crews to arrive.

Since then, he has provided treatment and assistance to more than 60 people with all kinds of ailments, from burns and asthma to heart troubles, cuts and injuries from car crashes.

Of those, he believes he’s helped save four lives, three linked to heart attacks.

Glenwood first responder and former paramedic Ron Frame.

In August, Ron was called to Glenwood’s service station, where a man was struggling to breathe.

Garry Rohde had been driven to the fuel station by his wife, Lee Murphy.

In tears and panicking, she was on the phone to triple-0, who had directed her not to drive and to wait for paramedics.

But watching her husband go in and out of consciousness, Ms Murphy was distraught.

Someone at the service station suggested calling Mr Frame.

He arrived minutes later, checking Mr Rohde’s oxygen saturation levels, which were registering at 54.

A healthy level is considered to be above 95.

Lee Murphy with Glenwood first responder Ron Frame.

He was able to speak to triple-0 to relay information about what has happening while being ready to start CPR if the need arose.

All the time, he was comforting Ms Murphy, promising her he would keep her husband going until paramedics arrived.

He was able to do just that.

“I was telling him, ‘just one breath at a time, keep going’, encouraging him to breathe,” Mr Frame said.

Sadly, Mr Rhode later died at Sunshine Coast University Hospital on September 7. He had been battling severe emphysema.

But Ms Murphy credits him with helping Mr Rohde survive until the ambulance arrived, giving him and his family precious moments in hospital, where he found out he was going to be a grandfather and where he was able to say a final goodbye to those he loved.

Lee Murphy with a photo of her husband, Garry Rhode, who first responder Ron Frame was able to assist. He sadly died later in hospital.

Also, among the 60 people Mr Frame has assisted was a toddler who was badly burned, a person who accidentally cut off their toe and a young woman who was injured in a car crash and had internal bleeding.

Jacki Stander, 77, also had help from Mr Frame when her vision went “strange”.

After being in hospital while she had Covid, Mrs Stander was at home when her vision troubles began.

Her temperature spiked and after she was checked over by Mr Frame, an ambulance was called.

Thankfully, the change in her vision was put down to her high temperature.

Throughout the experience, Mrs Stander was reassured by Mr Frame and the help he provided.

“Ron’s wonderful,” she said.

“He’s a wonderful asset.”

Mrs Stander, who has lived in the township for 12 years, said three people had died while waiting for an ambulance in Glenwood over the past three years.

Glenwood first responder and former paramedic Ron Frame.

Mr Frame said calls on social media for Glenwood to get an ambulance station reinforced the importance of his work.

“People are worried,” he said.

Even before he moved to Glenwood, he had kept emergency equipment in his car.

“I’d hate to think I’d ever go past an accident that didn’t have an ambulance and there was somebody that I could save with my skills and equipment and stop them from passing away.”

“People are worried,” he said.

The people Mr Frame has helped sing his praises online, calling him an “Earth angel” or “hero”.

But he says he’s just a “normal bloke with a big heart”.

His grandfather was an ambulance officer, his mother was a nurse and his daughter is training to be a midwife.

While many are grateful, the reaction to Mr Frame’s offer hasn’t all been positive.

Some on social media have questioned his qualifications but while that negativity initially made Mr Frame want to walk away from what he was doing, he made the choice to continue to help people.

From heart starts to testing equipment for blood sugar levels to a blood pressure cuff, Mr Frame has been adding to his equipment according to what he sees and knows might be helpful in an emergency.

After the incident with the late Mr Rohde, he added an oxygen tank to that list, spending more than $1000.

Mr Frame said he did not want money from the community, but many people in Glenwood had wanted to contribute to help cover the cost of equipment and fuel.

He is hoping to put together a group of first responders to gather more people who can provide assistance to those who need it.

A meeting will be held at Glenwood Community Hall on October 10 at 1pm.