Wayne Sachs reflects on 120 years of ambulance service in Gympie | Photos

The man in charge of the Gympie ambulance service for the past 27 years has paid tribute to the men and women who shaped the station as it celebrates 120 years. See the gallery of historic photos and read the reflections of Officer in Charge Wayne Sachs:

The Gympie ambulance service will turn 120 years old on September 17, 2022, and The Gympie Times is celebrating with this incredible walk down memory lane featuring many of the people and moments that shaped this cherished service.

Officer in Charge Wayne Sachs said in a press release he started as an honorary ambulance officer at Gympie on August 22, 1974.

He worked extensively around south-east Queensland in both honorary, relieving and permanent capacities, returning as appointed Officer in Charge at Gympie in 1995.

He also served as the appointed Officer in Charge at Childers and then Cooroy before that.

Gympie was one of the first stations (known as centres at the time) to be established outside of Brisbane in Queensland.

“The Gympie Ambulance can boast a proud and rich history from its humble beginnings 120 years ago to the modern, state-of-the-art service it is today,” Mr Sachs said.

The Gympie Ambulance operated under three banners - the Gympie Ambulance Transport Brigade, the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade and the Queensland Ambulance Service.

QAS officers in Gympie are now better trained, educated and equipped, and provide a more professional service than ever before.

“The foundations laid by the GATB in the early days and built upon by Gympie members of the QATB, and later the QAS, have all helped shape this service into what it is today,” Mr Sachs said.

“As the Officer in Charge for the past 27 years, I pay tribute to all members of the Gympie Ambulance who have contributed, and to all members of successive Local Ambulance Committees who have supported their ambulance station over the years.”

The QAS has the reputation of being the best in Australia, and one of the best in the world, thanks to the professionalism and dedication of ambulance officers and paramedics over the years.

There are 44 male and female paramedics dedicated to the Gympie station today, a far cry from when it was a predominantly a male profession not too long ago.

See the photos:

GALLERY: 33 photos and 120 years of Gympie Ambulance service

VIEW GALLERY

There have only been six Officers in Charge in the past 120 years, with each officer averaging a 20-year incumbency:

Fred Roffe: 1902-1922

Lew Dean: 1922-1969

Ron Lawrence: 1969-1993

Bruce Chalmers: 1993-1994

Paul Shaw: 1994-1995

Wayne Sachs: 1995 – current

The biggest change in the service was the transition from the QATB to the QAS in 1991.

This change resulted in 96 self-governing and locally administered services merging into one state-wide uniform service.

Ambulance paramedics have also become tertiary-trained.

“Together, these two significant developments have propelled the service into the 21st century with a professionalism second-to-none, with Gympie playing its part,” Mr Sachs said.

The station will hold an open day for the public on September 17, 2022 as a local celebration for 120 years anniversary.