Heroes working Christmas Day in Moreton Bay Region

While most of us are catching up with family this Christmas Day, these guys will be working hard to start our cars, pamper their guests and even come to the rescue on December 25.

QAS officer in charge Ben Lu is ready for Christmas. Picture: Dominika Lis

While most of us are catching up with family this Christmas Day, these guys will be working hard to start our cars, pamper their guests and even come to the rescue on December 25.

QUEENSLAND AMBULANCE SERVICE - Ben Lu

Tinsel and fairy lights will add a touch of Christmas to ambulances and emergency departments across the state on Christmas Day, something Queensland Ambulance Service paramedic Ben Lu says makes the day special for his team and patients.

Ben, who is based mostly at Caboolture, will be acting officer-in-charge at Eatons Hill on Christmas Day this year and has worked three other Christmases.

“We find joy in little things people do,” he says with a smile.

Ben likens the competition between hospital wards to create the most spectacular Christmas display to a Christmas lights tour for ambos.

For paramedics, the day is much like any other perhaps with a higher number of car crashes and minor injuries to attend to.

Queensland Ambulance Service's Ben Lu. Picture: Dominika Lis

But there are incidents that stick out in his memory, such as the time he was called to a stabbing which turned out to be a carving mishap. Initially the crew was on heightened alert, unsure of what they were walking in to.

They were greeted by a distressed woman, who explained a visiting uncle dropped the carving knife on his leg.

When they went in to the room where the uncle was, he was holding a tea towel on his leg and a beer in the other hand and told them it was just a flesh wound.

“As we were applying first aid, he explained he bumped the knife with his beer and it dropped on to his shin and went into his calf,” Ben explains with a grin.

It’s just one of the hazards of the day, trips and falls from new toys, and car crashes are more common.

Ben will be working from 7am-3pm on Christmas Day, so plans to enjoy Christmas dinner with wife Naomi and children Poppy, 3, and Oscar, seven months, when he gets home.

His extended family usually hosts Christmas events when he’s not working, so he can be part of it. “Having a supportive family is important,” he says.

But the QAS team working on Christmas Day will make it special by bringing along food to share and decking the halls.

Ben reckons every station has a “Christmas champion” who goes the extra mile to spread cheer on the day. “Generally, there’s a good spread (of food) and we leave it at the station and if we all manage to get back here at the same time, it’s a welcome thing,” he says.

Ben says most patients are more jovial on Christmas Day, and grateful for the help they receive.

And with so many people away from home at Christmas, Ben recommends we all download the Emergency Plus app, which will provide the address of our location at all times. If the worst happens, it makes it easier to let emergency services know where you are.

Energex first-responder Ash Hibberd will be working on Christmas Day. Picture: Dominika Lis

ENERGEX RAPID RESPONDER - Ash Hibberd

When the power goes out on Christmas Day it can spell disaster for the Christmas roast and family celebrations.

Energex rapid responder Ash Hibberd will be among those rostered on to ensure the power comes back on quickly, if needed.

“That happens every year. You get somewhere and there’s 20 people there for Christmas dinner and they’re all sitting there waiting for you to finish your job (and restore power),” he says.

Ash says relieved and happy customers always offer the crew something to eat or drink, but they have to keep moving.

“We normally get in and out as quickly as possible,” he says.

The Ningi resident has been with Energex for 12 years, working five Christmas Days in that time.

This year, he’s rostered on from 10am-2pm. He’ll see his wife Shannon and children Kade, 6, and Lacey, 4, in the afternoon and enjoy Christmas dinner with them.

It means he’ll miss Christmas lunch with their extended family, but will pop in after his shift.

“I always leave early or arrive late, depending on my shift. I’m never there for the actual festivities,” Ash explains.

“My wife will Facetime me when the kids open their presents. The kids can’t possibly wait (until after 2pm).”

Working Christmas Day is tough, but he knows it is part of the gig.

“Ideally, I’d like to be with my kids all day,” he says.

Instead, he’ll spend the day with his crew partner Alex Begg, the guy he works with every day. Ash says Alec is in the same position with three young children.

So, is working Christmas Day the same as any other day?

“It’s different. People are more appreciative that we’re there especially if we’re there quickly, more so than any other public holiday,” Ash says.

And there are strange things that happen to lighten the mood.

“We were called to a job (on Christmas Day) and the lady next door had locked herself out, she’d locked her keys inside the apartment,” he recalls.

“We used our bucket to send my mate up to climb onto the balcony and get her keys,” he recalls. 

Mercure Clear Mountain Lodge general manager Tim Innes. Picture: Dominika Lis

HOTEL GENERAL MANAGER - Tim Innes

MERCURE Clear Mountain Lodge general manager Tim Innes doesn’t have to worry about missing Christmas Day with his wife Vicki, they’ll be working side-by-side.

This will be the third Christmas Day he’s worked in a row and he’s bracing for a big day.

“It’s pretty busy. It’s the busiest lunch day of the year,” Tim says.

Judging by the number of bookings they already have, it’s going to be another huge day with “all-hands-on-deck”. Tim says there will be at least 140 people for lunch.

“I do breakfast and work in the kitchen all day. My wife will do housekeeping,” Tim explains.

“It’s pretty full-on right up until about 3-4pm in the day, but it’s a bit of a fun day as well.”

Staff dress up, there are decorations in the dining room and the team will enjoy Christmas lunch after their guests have finished doing the same.

So, what is Tim looking forward to at Christmas lunch?

“The desserts, Christmas pudding with custard and ice cream and pavlova,” he says.

RACQ patrolman Lindsey Geritz. Picture: Dominika Lis

RACQ PATROLMAN - Lindsey Geritz

Imagine the car’s loaded up with presents and food, and you’re heading to Christmas lunch at Grandma’s place when the car conks out.

It’s hot, you’re stressed and the ham’s going warm.

RACQ patrolman Lindsey Geritz reckons he’s saved a few Christmases in his 14 years with the roadside assistance unit and he’ll be at it again this year.

“I’ve worked at least seven Christmas Days,” Lindsey says.

“It varies from year to year. Sometimes you can get very minor things, just a flat tyre that’s ruined someone’s day or will potentially ruin someone’s day, and we go out there and save it. Other times they can be much more strenuous, more complex issues.

“One Christmas all I got was one lockout, four doors up from my house. Another year I did 25 jobs and they were all over the place.”

The Kallangur resident says he’s working the night shift, 7pm-7am, so will enjoy Christmas lunch with his wife Alison and sons Levi, 7, and Dillion, 19, before hitting the road.

“I’ll probably take some leftovers with me,” he says. “Whilst it’s challenging, you’re not home with your own family, it’s kind of rewarding as well.

“Most of the time people are stressed out heavily, and you get there and it’s something simple and they’re very grateful, they’re very excited.

“You see people dance in the street after you’ve got their car going and it was only just a blown fuse and they thought it was going to be something catastrophic.

“It’s a very stressful time of year for people and they want to get away or go visit their family and the car doesn’t work. We try and solve that for them.”

Lindsey recommends motorists get their cars checked over and serviced by a mechanic before Christmas, so they avoid the stress of a breakdown.

And if the worst happens … “Remain calm, which is very difficult to do on Christmas Day. It’s one of those things … sometimes we can get you going, sometimes we can’t. We do our best,” he says.