Ingham Ambulance Service marks 100-year anniversary celebrations
The Ingham Ambulance Service is marking 100 years saving lives in the Hinchinbrook community on Monday. See the PHOTOS>>
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The Ingham Ambulance Service is marking 100 years saving lives in the Hinchinbrook community on Monday.
Acting Officer in Charge of Ingham Ambulance Station Marko Isokangas said the then Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB) formed its first Ingham Sub-Centre in 1921 before opening the first Ingham Centre in 1925.
Tragedy struck almost immediately with the drowning death of the service’s first superintendent, Edward Von Alpen, in the line of duty in the historic 1927 floods.
The 25-year-old’s untimely passing was not to be the last, with Driver Bearer Vivian Francis John Andersen dying in a vehicle accident in 1939 and Honorary Ambulance Officer Ernest George Newman’s death in 1981.
Mr Isokangas, a descendant of immigrant Finnish cane farmers from Long Pocket, said the centenary celebration would also feature displays of old and more modern equipment, including incident documentation log books from the 1920s up to the new iPads.
“We’ve certainly changed with all of that in the same way our resources have changed and our training has obviously elevated to a new level that we wouldn’t have even dreamed about 35 years ago when I first started.”
He said the Ingham Station now had six ambulances, including a four-wheel-drive and a patient transport unit, which reflected the evolving nature of the responsibilities of paramedics.
“Our work rate has increased significantly over the years and that is everything from sprains and strains to delivering babies and car accidents to cardiac problems, everything has increased.”
The increases included patient transfers to and from Townsville, including for medical imaging such at CT and MRI scans “for those who are on stretchers and are unable to make it on their own steam”.
He said all roles designated to Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics were important.
“Everyone has their needs, and regardless of whether they are big or small we might conceive it to be, it may be very significant for them (the patients) because they just need a different kind of care,” he said.
“So whether it is an acute emergency or whether we see it as something minor, it still may have a big impact on them.”
Mr Isokangas, speaking on Wednesday, said Ingham paramedics had had a typically busy and varied morning, dealing with a cardiac incident, a fall and a traumatic hand injury in the space of a couple of hours.
He said QAS paramedics were dealing with an increasing number of call-outs each year.
“We’ve noticed that trend ever since we started … we notice now that our down time is minimal, now we don’t really get a break whereas 35 years ago we’d have time to sit down and read or study or even watch a movie but that just doesn’t happen anymore, not in the slightest.”
Mr Isokangas said the number of officers had increased from seven and an OIC 35 years ago to 19 today, despite the population decline, “and we’re still always busy”.
He said he expected a large turnout at Monday’s centenary celebrations, which would reflect the important role the service had played since its formation supported by pioneering cane farmers and its continued support from key community groups throughout its history, including during the deadly flood disaster in February.
“The numbers are pretty huge, we’ve invited members of the community who have supported us over the last 100 years, and community groups, and people who contributed during the recent floods, which we really wanted to thank them for, for keeping our service running.”
The event, which will include a dedication to the fallen officers, will be held at the Ingham Ambulance Station that was built in 1986.
“This station was built by the locals (through the Ingham Local Ambulance Committee), and vehicles and equipment has also been purchased, and we’ve had equipment donated by some of the service groups.”
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