QAS INSIGHT | Summer 2017-18 edition

Station profile: Gladstone’s centenary

Gladstone Ambulance Station is celebrating its centenary this year. The first branch centre was established in 1917 at Goondoon Street, with Walter Daniel appointed the Superintendent of Gladstone. Today’s Gladstone Station was built in 1967 on Glenlyon Road and it was relaunched after a $1.6 million internal refurbishment, redesign and plant room extension on May 28, 2015. Work involved a complete internal refurbishment and redesign to deliver safer and more functional work areas, including: a dedicated training room, study area, improved storage for patient care supplies, a new kitchen and day room facilities. The plant room roof was also extended to provide improved protection for ambulances and a new wash down bay was added. The improvements have delivered a more modern facility that is better suited to the needs of the paramedics.

Gladstone’s first four Supers Walter Daniel  1917–1935 Walter Daniel commenced in 1892 aged 22 and was a foundation member of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade. He was appointed to the permanent staff at Brisbane in 1894. Promoted to Superintendent at Rockhampton on August 26, 1901, he established ambulance services in Central Queensland. After a year in Brisbane, in 1917 he was appointed the first Superintendent at Gladstone. He received his 40-year Certificate of Service, later passing away aged 68. William Coase  1935–1953 Bill was first appointed to the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade Gladstone Centre Committee in 1918 and acted as Treasurer from 1921 to 1926. He was appointed to the permanent staff as an ambulance officer in 1926 and became Superintendent in 1935. He retired in 1953 after 36 years. William Jeffrey  1953–1976 This Bill commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer at Miriam Vale in 1927. He was appointed to the permanent staff as Superintendent at Winton in 1933. He transferred to Gladstone as Superintendent in 1953 and remained in the position until 1976. Thomas Butler  1976–1982 Tom Butler began as an Honorary Ambulance Officer at Charleville in 1947. He was appointed the permanent staff at Miles in 1948 and then transferred to Charleville and Dalby. Tom was promoted to Superintendent at Miriam Vale in 1959 and then moved to Gladstone as the Deputy Superintendent in 1966. Appointed Superintendent at Gladstone in 1976, he passed away in 1982.

Above ■ Gladstone’s first Superintendent, Walter Daniel, served in that role for almost 20 years.

Right ■ Later premises, more modern vehicles – the Gladstone crew prepares for Australia Day.

22

Below ■ Gladstone’s first fleet, with

Superintendent Daniel standing by the Dodge on the right; on the left, carrying the stretcher, are Honorary Bearers Dan ‘Iodine’ Jackson, Gerry ‘Aspro’ O’Briend, Peter Hutchinson and Driver Bearer Bill Coase, who became Gladstone’s Superintendent from 1935 until 1953.

Thanks to Mick Davis at Wynnum Ambulance Museum for this background.

Summer 2017–18