Sandgate Ambulance Station’s oldest, newest recruits mark centenary

From terrible misfortunes to divine interventions, Sandgate’s longest serving and newest paramedic share career highlights ahead of their ambulance station’s centenary.

Ambulance services have changed considerably since Craig Claassen, Sandgate’s longest-serving paramedic, joined the QAS in 1983.

“It’s changed a lot, given that we had no equipment and stuff when I was first started,” he said.

“Women also weren’t allowed to work in the service back then, but since 1998, women have become a big part of the service, and I never understood why they weren’t allowed in the service.”

As Sandgate Ambulance Station prepares for its 100th anniversary on November 5, Mr Claassen shared some career highlights with newest recruit Rachel Morrow, who joined in September.

Sandgate Ambulance Station’s older member and advance care paramedic 2, Craig Claassen, and its youngest member and advance care paramedic 2, Rachel Morrow.

“My first successful use of a defibrillator was on the altar area of a church in Paddington,” he said.

“We defibrillated him on the altar and he came back straight away.

“He survived that one and I believe he walked out of hospital afterwards too, so I thought that was a bit of divine intervention.”

Despite only being at the station for six weeks, Ms Morrow said she knew that being a paramedic was what she was meant to do.

“Once I did my first placement on the road, it just clicked and I was like, this is this is what I want to do,” she said.

“It’s nice after all the studying at uni to then come on the road and be able to actually use all your clinical skills, and help people”.

Despite being relocated in 2001 to Bracken Ridge, Sandgate station originally started out as a sub-centre of the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade at the local town hall in 1922.

Sandgate Ambulance Station in 1926, housing a T Model Ford. Picture: QAS

The first purpose-built ambulance station in Sandgate officially opened in August 1924.

Centenary celebrations will kick off at 9am on Saturday, November 5 at Bracken Ridge Ambulance Station, with a barbecue, coffee, and displays such as heritage society cars, the CPR bus and the multi-casualty unit.