March 6, 2013
Back in 1994, the South Burnett was in crisis … it looked like the vital helicopter medivacs that serviced the local hospitals may have to be cut back, or even discontinued, because of the cost.
Dr Joe Gangemi, who was registrar at Murgon Hospital, joined together with a Murgon “mover and shaker”, Irma Close, to see if they could make a difference.
They believed local residents could pull together to help the service by holding regular fund-raising activities.
And so in April 1994, CRISIS – the Country Rescue Income Support Improvement Scheme – was launched. It was a registered charity and donations were tax deductible.
Joe was the first president of CRISIS and money started flowing in almost straight away.
“We did lots of things to raise funds,” Irma recalled today.
When Dr Gangemi left the area in 1997, Irma stepped into the president’s role … a position she’s held ever since.
“Since 1994, CRISIS has probably raised over $300,000, maybe even closer to $400,000,” Irma said.
Initially the group organised its own fundraisers but when public liability premiums soared, it turned to local service clubs, churches and businesses for assistance.
Irma singled out Rotary, Lions, Apex, Quota, the Boonara Lodge at Goomeri, the Buffalo Lodge and Cornett’s SupaIGA at Murgon for special praise.
But now Irma’s leaving Murgon, and CRISIS needs a new president.
For many years the running of CRISIS has rested solely on Irma’s shoulders and that of treasurer Shirley Sakrzewski.
“I am looking for someone to take it over for me,” Irma said. “It needs someone at the helm, even if it is only to write the cheques and accept the help from the locals.”
The association has no running costs so there are no bills to pay.
“All the money that comes into CRISIS is handed over to the helicopter rescue service, and our books are audited every year,” Irma said.
Anyone interested in helping with the CRISIS committee should contact the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter on (07) 5448-7664.
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Irma and her husband Frank are relocating from Murgon to the Gold Coast either at the end of this month or early April to be closer to family.
Irma will turn 80 this year and Frank is 81.
She was born and bred in NSW – a “cockroach”, she admits – and was a nurse at Murwillumbah General Hospital when she met her husband-to-be Frank, a police officer at Coolangatta.
The couple was married in Rockhampton. In June, they’ll be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.
Frank’s job took him all over State. In 1965, they came to the South Burnett for the first time when Frank was appointed officer-in-charge of Proston Police Station. Their children did many of their school years here.
In 1972, Frank was transferred to Beaudesert.
In 1977, Frank retired from the force and the couple took a change in direction, buying a pub in Cunnamulla. In 1980, they came back to the South Burnett, purchasing the Broadway Hotel in Kingaroy. At the same time, they were running the Hospital Shop, which was located in Albert Street opposite Kingaroy Hospital.
They sold the Broadway in 1982, but Irma stayed on with the new owners working alongside them until 1987 while Frank managed the shop.
In 1990 they moved to Murgon “to retire”. And then along came CRISIS.
Over the years, Irma has been recognised for her work with CRISIS, including an Australia Day award in 2012, 2011 Quota Woman of the Year Award and a Chris Thompson Rotary Award. In 1995, a CRISIS fundraiser, the Murgon Hospital Fair, won the Community Event of the Year Award.
Irma admits she’s going to miss Murgon and all the people she has grown to love. But she’s looking forward to spending more time with her family.
The couple have four children, 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
“They’re the joy of our life and being so far way we didn’t see nearly enough of them,” Irma said.
NB. Irma and Frank are the parents of Chris “Choppy” Close, the former Australian rugby league international and Queensland State of Origin centre who is now Business Development Manager at the Gold Coast Titans.
