History of the
Voluntary First Aid Movement
Who are??
the
Railway First Aid Volunteers
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
• History
• Timelines
• Thallon group of awards
• Districts & Committees
• Competitions
• Classes and Instructors
• Achievements and Community Service
• What the future holds
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
The Story Begins…
The Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps (QRAC), known now
as Railway First Aid Volunteers (RFAV), was instigated by the
organisation's employees who recognised the need to be able to
provide skilled first aid assistance to their colleagues when
necessary
Historical records support the fact that the Corps, in conjunction
with the Order of St John, the Army Ambulance Corps, and the
City Ambulance Transport Brigade (now the Queensland
Ambulance Service), was among the first organisations dedicated
to the advancement of first aid in Queensland
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Original Rules of the
Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps
The “objects” of the Corps shall be:
 To assist the Department by disseminating a knowledge of “First Aid
Work” among the staff
 To arrange Practices and Competitions so that the instruction
received at “First Aid” classes shall not be forgotten and
 As many as possible who have received instruction may keep
themselves in training and be ready to render “First Aid” when
necessary
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Brief History of the Formation of the Army Ambulance Corps
• 1885
Dr Surgeon Major John Thomson, Surgeon
Superintendent Brisbane General Hospital and Chief
Medical Officer of the Queensland Police Force and the
Queensland Government Railways, founded the
“Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps within the Queensland
Defence Force”
This took place at a public meeting chaired by Dr Thomson
when nineteen volunteers joined. The date was 30 April
1885
This newly formed Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps
would become a part of the Queensland Defence Force
(1860 – 1911)
• 1885 cont’d
In addition to a military role, the Volunteer
Army Ambulance Corps would attend and
provide first aid assistance at events such as
sporting fixtures or where large crowds where
assembled.
• 1885 to 1889
During this period the only members of the
Queensland community to receive first aid
instruction and render first aid were the men
who enrolled in the Volunteer Army Ambulance
Corps.
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Brief History of the Formation of St John Ambulance
• 1880 - 1881 Dr Robert Robertson at Melbourne, conducts four
lectures on Military First Aid
• 1883
First St John Ambulance Association formed in
Australia. This was at Melbourne
• 1884
St John Ambulance Association formed in South
Australia
• 1885
Dr John Thomson (1847 - 1909) founded the Army
Ambulance Corps within the Defence Force based in
Brisbane. Thirty people present at initial meeting with
nineteen joining.
• 1887
Lord and Lady Brassey addressed a meeting in
Sydney. (15.07.1887) They then traveled
to Brisbane and onto Rockhampton to address further
meetings.
• 1887
Approx. Dr Samuel Knaggs of Newcastle, sought
approval from London to teach St John Ambulance
First Aid to Newcastle and Hunter River Area
Railway Workers
• 1889
Dr Surgeon Major John Thomson taught the first St
John Ambulance Association Course in Brisbane.
This was a public class and was conducted in
School of Arts Building, Ann Street Brisbane. Dr
Thomson conducted free of charge, thirteen courses
between May and August 1889. All at the School of
Arts building
the
• 1890
Establishment of a St John Ambulance Centre in NSW.
Work of Lord and Lady Brassey and Dr Knaggs
• 1909
Establishment of a St John Ambulance Association
Centre in Brisbane
• 1916
Queensland St John Ambulance Brigade established
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Brief History of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade
• 1892
The stimulus was an accident at the Brisbane
Exhibition grounds during the running of the Maiden
Hunters Cup. The date was 11August 1892
• 1892
Seymour Warrian of the Military Ambulance held a
meeting on 12 September 1892. This meeting was at
his home at Boggo (Annerley) Road, Dutton Park. This
is generally regarded as the inaugural meeting which
led to the formation of a new civic ambulance brigade
In addition to Seymour Warrian there were fourteen
other people present at the meeting. One of whom was
Eustace Jack
• 1892
The new brigade’s first treatment / transport was
carried out on 4 December 1892. This was carried out
by Warrian and Tomkins who attended a patient
at Taringa and the following day they transported the
patient to New Farm. Fifteen shilling was paid for this
service
• 1892
The first official meeting of the City Ambulance
Transport Brigade (CATB) at Brisbane on 22
December 1892. At this meeting, the first election of
officers of the newly formed CATB was held
Dr John Thomson was not invited to either of the above
two meetings
• 1902
Renamed the Queensland Ambulance Transport
Brigade (QATB)
• 1993
Renamed, Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)
History of the
Voluntary First Aid Movement
Brief History of the
Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Brief History of the
Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps
• 1892
Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps (QRAC)
established on 2 September 1892. A Provisional
Committee was formed and the Election of Officers
was held. First secretary of the committee was
Mr WC Stone from the QGR Traffic Department. (Mr
Stone remained in this position till 1897) Reference
Brisbane Courier 5 September 1892
Meeting was advised that Dr John Thomson, Principal
Medical Officer of the Army Ambulance Corps, Visiting
Surgeon to the Brisbane General Hospital, Medical
Officer to the Queensland Government Railways
and the Police, was willing to give a series of lectures
free of charge
• 1892
On 12 October 1892, formal approval and financial
assistance was given by the Railway Commissioners
provided the men conform to the Rules of the St John
Society
• 1892
Meeting held on 28 October 1892 to receive the report
of the provisional committee and to form the first
ambulance class
• 1892
QRAC first ambulance class held December 1892.
Eighty-five applications were received from
staff with thirty railway employees accepted to
the course
railway
attend
• 1897
JW Davidson took over as the secretary. He remained
in this position till 1914
• 1914
A (Austin) Price SBStJ appointed first Ambulance
Officer of the QRAC. This appointment of a full time
Ambulance Officer came about due to the rapid growth
of the Corps
• 1937
RCE (Dick) Smythe SBStJ appointed second
Ambulance Officer of the QRAC
• 1960
AJS (Arthur) Meyers OBE, KStJ appointed third
Ambulance Officer of the QRAC
• 1964
JM (Matt) Hopkins CStJ appointed fourth Ambulance
Officer of the QRAC
• 1976
WA (Arthur) Carvolth BEM OStJ appointed fifth
Ambulance Officer of the QRAC
• 1980
CH (Cliff) Vernon OStJ appointed sixth Ambulance
Officer of the QRAC
• 1984
BC (Brian) Dunstan CStJ appointed seventh
Ambulance Officer of the QRAC. BC (Brian) Dunstan
was the last of the Ambulance Officers to be appointed
• 1993
The title Queensland Railways Ambulance Corps
changed to Queensland Rail First Aid Services
(QRFAS). Ambulance Officer changed to Senior First
Aid Services Adviser
• 2000
BC (Brian) Dunstan retired from QR. The position of
Senior First Aid Services Adviser, (formerly Ambulance
Officer), was abolished
• 2000
Two First Aid Services Advisers: KG (Kieran) Broad
and GD (Gary) Crook coordinated activates and
managed the competitions. KD (Keiran) Broad played
the lead role
• 2003
KG (Keiran) Broad retires with GD (Gary) Crook taking
on the lead role. DS (Darryl) Jamieson came into the
team temporarily
• 2004
NW (Neville) Spark appointed to fill the second First
Aid Services Adviser role
•
Thallon Medal Centenary Conducted
2008
• 2010
Separation of QR Limited 1 July 2010. GD (Gary)
Crook First Aid Services Adviser QR National.
NW (Neville) Spark First Aid Servicer Adviser
Queensland Rail
• 2011
State First Aid Services Committee adopts a new
name ‘Railway First Aid Volunteers’ for the
Voluntary First Aid Movement
• 2011
State First Aid Services Committee adopts a new
name ‘Railway First Aid Volunteers State Committee’
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Chairmen - Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps
In addition to the Ambulance Officers, the QRAC appointed Chairmen
to oversee the activities of the Corps
To date there have been eleven Chairmen. The full list is:

1902 - 1911
JF ‘James’ Thallon appointed President of
the Committee. During this period he was
appointed Commissioner for Railways

1914
JW Davidson, former Secretary, was appointed
Chairman. He became Commissioner for
Railways in October 1918

1919
JT ‘John’ Cunningham SBStJ

1936
J Grant

1939
JS Strachan SBStJ
 1957
BW ‘Joe’ Girard
 1964
WR ‘Bob’ McGregor
 1975
JE ‘Jim‘ Burke OStJ
 1986
AJ ‘Allan‘ Matheson
 1995
MM ‘Martina’ Sheehan
 1996
PZ ‘Paul’ Niethe SBStJ
 2005
JJ ‘John’ Bates
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
James Forsyth Thallon & the Thallon Medal
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Thallon suite of awards
Upon completion of the annual first aid class examinations, participants
whose marks are in the top grouping are invited to sit for a further special
examination called the Thallon Medal Examination
The Thallon Medal Examination started in 1908. Awards include:
• Thallon Medal (greatest proficiency employee 4 years or over)
• WR McGregor Medal
• Minister for Transport Medal
• Dr Thompson Novice Medal
• Chief Executive Medal
• Chairman’s Award
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Districts & Committees
•
SOUTH WESTERN
Extending from the distant signal on the Toowoomba side of Helidon to
Wallangarra, Dirranbandi, Cunnamulla and Quilpie and all branch lines
•
SOUTH EASTERN
Extending from Helidon to Eudlo on the North Coast Line and all branch lines,
Metropolitan Suburban Network, Beaudesert and Gold Coast Line
•
NORTH COAST
Extending from Palmwoods to Yandaran including all branch lines. Monto is to
be included in this district
•
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND
Extending from just North of Yandaran to Mackay and all branch lines;
Gladstone to Mungungo, West to Winton Distant Signal on the Longreach side
•
NORTH QUEENSLAND
Extending from North of Mackay to Cairns, West to Winton and Mount Isa, and
all branch lines including the Normanton Rail System
Districts & Committees
Each district has a honorary committee that is responsible for the
promotion of the Voluntary First Aid Movement at a local level. A
state committee oversees Voluntary First Aid Movement and is
responsible for strategy development and the general direction of
the movement
The composition of the state committee is:

Chairman & Deputy Chairman

Delegate from each district

Two First Aid Services Advisers

Representative From Queensland Rail & QR National

Minute Taker
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Competitions
History of Voluntary First Aid Movement
Competitions
History of Voluntary First Aid Movement
Competitions
Since 1914, annual competitions at district and state levels have
been held for Voluntary First Aid Movement members
Competitions:

Local

District

State

National

Qld Corporate First Aid Challenge
History of Voluntary First Aid Movement
Competitions
History of QR Voluntary First Aid Movement
Competitions
Competition - Events & Awards
Events:

Supplied Material

Improvised Material

Treat and Recovery

Oral

Individual
Awards:

Chief Executive Silver Challenge Shield

St John Ambulance Challenge Cup
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Competition Awards
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Competitions
Competition Benefits

First Aid Knowledge and Skills

Leadership Skills

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Analytical Skills

Diagnostic Skills

Assessing Skills

Networking
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
Classes
Classes & Instructors
Classes:

Lunch time, evening and week end classes

Classes held through out Queensland

Employees, partners, family and friends

70 Classes

550 AFA participants plus over 100 CPR renewals
Instructors:

65 Volunteer Instructors

Assistants and Class Secretaries
Achievements & Community Service
Achievements:

120 years of history of supporting the community

Large network of volunteers

High standard of activity

Winner of four Qld Corporate First Aid Challenges

Strong relationships with kindred organisations
Community Service:

Volunteer First Aid Training

Commendations for First Aiders and First Responders

Volunteer First Aid Duties

SIDS Trek For Kids
History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement
SIDS Trek for Kids
What The Future Holds

2012 = 120 years supporting the community

Continued Volunteer Classes

Continued Competitions

Support from partnering organisations

History & Heritage

2014 = 100 years of competitions

2017 = 125 years
Reference to Publications:
• The History of St John Ambulance in Queensland
• Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps Historical Records
• Brief History First Aid Movement 1892 – 1973
• QRAC 1892 – 1992 Celebrating 100 years
Contributions from:
• Queensland Rail
• QR National
• First Aid Services
• History & Heritage Committee – Past Chairman Brian Dunstan
• Queensland Rail Historian – Greg Hallam
History of the Voluntary First Aid
Movement
Questions?