QAS Honours Long-Serving Volunteers

Kingaroy Station officer-in-charge Mei-Lin Dean, left, and cadet paramedic Maud Alberts, right, joined Assistant Commissioner Peta Thompson, centre, and Kingaroy LAC members at the group’s AGM on Tuesday night

August 8, 2024

QAS Assistant Commissioner Peta Thompson was the special guest at the Kingaroy Local Ambulance Committee’s AGM held on Tuesday night.

Assistant Commissioner Thompson, who is responsible for the Darling Downs and South West Region, was only appointed to this role in March.

She had a special job to do at the meeting, ie. present long service medals to several members of the volunteer committee.

President Peter McLennan and former vice-president Debbie-Lee Jackson were both presented with 15-year pins.

John Box and Christine Box also received 15-year pins despite serving even longer than this.

Peter noted that John and Christine had served the LAC for many years as President and Secretary and were overdue for their pins.

“In fact, John was instrumental in getting the LAC going again (when it looked like it was going to fold many years ago) and it’s been going ever since,” Peter said.

Assistant Commissioner Thompson praised the members of the committee.

“Anyone who volunteers for service is the exception,” she said.

The Kingaroy LAC’s executive for 2024-25 is Peter McLennan (president), Darryl Dove (vice-president), Kay Dove (secretary) and Sharon Leach (treasurer).

Other members are John Box, Christine Box, Deputy Mayor Danita Potter, Debbie-Lee Jackson, Abigail Andersson, John Shaw and Kendall Siddans.

Officer-in-charge of the Kingaroy Station, Mei-Lin Dean, reported to the meeting that the station currently has seven vehicles, including one Patient Transfer vehicle, and a staff of 18 (full-time or part-time).

She thanked the LAC members for their support throughout the year and their hard work behind-the-scenes to enable the station to receive new equipment.

A special “birthing manikin” for training has arrived at station, and staff are awaiting the arrival of a Ferno chair (a lightweight carry chair).

Several CPR awareness days had also been run in conjunction with LAC members, including at Under 8s Week, NAIDOC Day, the Ballogie Rural Fire Station open day and the Bunya Mountains Emergency Services day.