Laidley ambulance station prepares to celebrate 100 years, as three veterans look back on careers
The tools and technology paramedics have today could have saved so many lives 30 to 40 years ago, with one veteran paramedic calling them ‘phenomenal’.
Gatton
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Between Laidley’s three most senior paramedics, they’ve almost worked at the station for almost as long as it’s been operational.
Paul Hardie, Ken Wiemers and John Jackwitz have a combined 97 years between them, saving lives across the Laidley district – just three years behind the station that turns 100 this weekend.
While the trio will celebrate the milestone of the station with the community on Saturday, it’s also provided them a chance to reflect on their careers – saving lives.
It’s not a job they do for the accolades.
It’s highly stressful, confrontational, and emotional – but they wouldn’t trade it for a day.
While the role of the paramedic hasn’t changed much in the past 30 to 40 years, the equipment and technology has.
Laidley officer in charge Paul Hardie says today’s technology could have saved even more lives three decades ago.
“The things we can do for our patients now compared to when I joined is phenomenal. It’s mind-blowing,” Mr Hardie said.
And instead of joining with just a first aid certificate, paramedics now complete a gruelling three-year degree that’s accompanied by a tough ATAR.
Mr Hardie completed a first aid certificate as a “youngster” after the floods hit his parents’ home in Ipswich.
After school, he tried to be an electrician, but the job didn’t spark his interest.
He joined St Johns Ambulance in Nanango as a volunteer in 1987 while working in the coal mines, and a year later had his associates’ diploma and moved to Laidley.
“We joined with a first aid certificate. We were just first aiders that could drive really fast,” he said.
Since then, he’s completed the university degree, which is now a requirement to become a superhero dressed in Queensland Ambulance’s Services distinctive green uniform.
For Mr Hardie, the role of a paramedic has always been about community involvement and supporting the town that he is a part of.
Today, he oversees the operation of Laidley’s station, keeping a watchful and helpful eye on 14 paramedics and three vehicles.
“This is where I’m staying. I’m making my mark here at Laidley until I retire,” Mr Hardie said.
“I’ve reached the pinnacle of my career and my body is telling me I need to slow down. But I’ve still got a lot to offer the service.”
His colleague, John Jackwitz, has worked as a paramedic at the Laidley station since joining the service.
“We used to supply an ambulance on a Sunday at the football grounds and they would give us a donation for being there,” Mr Jackwitz said.
“I was working on a farm and my parents said ‘why don’t you give it a try’. I came out to football with one of the original bosses.”
Forty-four years later, and Mr Jackwitz says it doesn’t feel like he’s worked as a paramedic for that long.
“It’s just one of those jobs I enjoy doing every day of the week. Every day is different. I can’t put into words about how much I’ve enjoyed the job,” he said.
The Laidley team, as both Mr Jackwitz and Mr Hardie describe it, is a close-knit group.
Mr Hardie says paramedics as a “closed door bunch”, a family team that make quick decisions to save someone’s life.
The nature of their job means they often can’t talk to family and friends because of patient confidentiality.
But it doesn’t mean their loved ones don’t know – more often than not, its little signs they pick up on.
Mr Hardie said his daughter picked up on a recent case that involved a child.
“The next morning my daughter sent my granddaughter over, and she said ‘this is an extra special cuddle granddad because mummy said you needed it’,” he said.
“Even my wife knew. She said ‘I knew you had a bad case because I woke up and you were in the kid’s bed – so it was a kid case’ – that was the end of the conversation.”
But this Saturday, the Laidley paramedics will open their doors to the community, giving them an insight to what they do as they celebrate 100 years of helping the community.
Mr Hardie and his team will be joined by the Laidley Local Ambulance Committee – who in the Queensland ambulance’s inception, would raise funds for paramedic salaries, equipment and vehicles.
Today, the LAC helps to provide equipment and necessity’s to the ambulance house for paramedics returning from stressful and long shifts.
“In the old days, the community owned the paramedics,” he said. “We are a part of the community.”
On Saturday, the station will be opened to the public from 11am, where two older-model ambulances, plus the new ones will be on display.
There will also be face painting for the kids and a sausage sizzle, with funds raised going directly to the Laidley Local Ambulance Committee.
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