Volunteer driver Maxine Murray named Queensland Ambulance Service volunteer of the year

A volunteer driver from a small Western Downs town has received one of the Queensland Ambulance Service’s highest honours.

Queensland Ambulance Service Commissioner Craig Emery (right) presents Maxine Murray with the Volunteer of the Year, 2024. Photo: Renae Droop

Surat resident Maxine Murray has been named the Queensland Ambulance Service’s volunteer of the year.

The dedicated driver received at the honour at a service in Brisbane on September 13.

Ms Murray has invested a significant amount of her time into being a volunteer driver in Surat and attends multiple calls for service each week to assist paramedics in her community.

Ms Murray has also served as the president of the Surat Local Ambulance Committee for a number of years and can be found working in a number of other community roles.

The Commissioner’s Achievement Awards recognise individuals and teams who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to patients and the wider community across the state.

They also recognise innovative projects which have been delivered to make the organisation stronger.

Commissioner Craig Emery said it was a special occasion to pause and reflect on the achievements of staff from all corners of the service.

“Our emergency medical dispatchers experienced our busiest day for triple-0 calls in all QAS’s history in February, and our paramedics are being called out to more critical incidents than ever before,” he said.

“The dedication of QAS staff does not go unnoticed, and I thank them for their extraordinary and compassionate efforts each and every day.”

Originally published as Volunteer driver Maxine Murray named Queensland Ambulance Service volunteer of the year