Contents
13
A long ride home (Chinook rescue) ................................ 8
16
Algester oil spill ............................................................ 10
State firefighter champions . .........................................12
CPR Challenge ...............................................................14
19
Minister’s awards for excellence ...................................21
Smoking guns .............................................................. 18
22
SES new uniforms ........................................................ 27
Variety Bash ’07 ........................................................... 35
26
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
EMERGENCY September 2007
3
From the Minister
A
fter one of the busiest winter fire periods
we’ve ever had, bushfire season is
already beginning to threaten people and
property around the state.
Between our rural volunteers, our urban
crews and our waterbombing choppers,
I congratulate everyone on their efforts to
combat the dangers bushfires bring.
Just recently I toured Rural Fire facilities
near Bundaberg, and apart from the
magnificent hospitality on display, I was
greatly impressed by the dedication and
commitment that was evident among
the Perry River, Bullyard, Winfield and
surrounding units. During my brief time as
Minister, I know they’re traits common to
Rural Fire and other Emergency Services
agencies across the state.
Fire Awareness Week has been and gone,
and congratulations must go to staff and
officers of QFRS who organised launch
events at Toowoomba, Durack and elsewhere
around the state. The important messages
such as the Prepare, Stay and Defend, or Go
Early initiative, the new compulsory smoke
alarm laws and others were all delivered
in a fun and informative way. We hope
Queenslanders take heed of those messages
for their own safety and that of those close
to them.
With Fire Awareness Week out of the way,
we now look towards Ambulance Week
which begins on September 10.
In what should be a great seven days,
I’ll be visiting various regions with the
Ambulance Commissioner to hand out Star
Care Awards and take part in other functions
designed to pay tribute to
our ambos.
Of course, we’re all looking forward to the
CPR Challenge, where we’ll attempt to
join the record books, and I encourage all
Emergency Services staff and volunteers to
take part if possible.
Lastly a big congratulations to all the
volunteers who took part in the parade at
the Ekka.
I was one of the many in the crowd who took
the opportunity to pay tribute to you all, and
I thank you for once again upholding the fine
reputation of your individual organisations
and this department.
Neil Roberts MP
From the Director-General
I
would like to congratulate the nominees
and, of course, the award recipients for the
2007 Emergency Services Minister’s Awards for
Excellence. The Ambulance Pandemic Planning
Project for Leadership Excellence, the WatchOut!
Project for Engaging and Serving Communities,
the QFRS CISM Disaster Response Team for
Focussing on our People, the Ambulance Service
eARF Project for Innovation and Creativity and
the First Step Indigenous Training Program for
Partnerships and Reconciliation have all been
independently assessed by a panel of external
judges as having demonstrated high levels of
excellence and achievement against the specific
criteria for each category. I would also like to
acknowledge the Fire Awareness Week Award
recipients for their professionalism and high level
commitment and thank all staff and volunteers
who assisted throughout the state with the 2007
Fire Awareness Week events. The Ekka also
provided a wonderful opportunity for many show
visitors to see and recognise the work undertaken
4
EMERGENCY September 2007
by Emergency Services staff and volunteers in
serving their communities. I would also like
to thank all the staff and volunteers who gave
their time to support the department’s display
in the government pavillion and participate in
the parade. During this past month I have had
the opportunity to visit the North Coast Region
to discuss the department’s Workplace Health
and Safety ZEROharm strategy and I continue to
be impressed with the very significant progress
being made and the initiatives planned for
implementation. I would like to congratulate all
members of the Regional Team and particularly
the Ambulance team who have contributed to
a 41 per cent reduction in their lost time injury
frequency rate, in comparison to the previous
year. I look forward to continuing my regional visits
over this month, with trips to Northern and Far
Northern Regions to discuss their progress with
the implementation of the ZEROharm strategy. In
early August I spent four days visiting a number
of Cape York and Torres Strait Island communities
with Frank Pagano, Executive Director, Emergency
Management Queensland and key members
of the Far Northern Emergency Services team.
We visited the following communities and
homelands: Wujal Wujal, Cooktown, Lakeland
Downs, Welcome Station and Kulpa Station, Coen,
Weipa and Bamaga before flying to Warraber
(Sue) Island, Poruma (Coconut) Island and Saibai
Island. The main purpose of our trip was to meet
with a number of our staff and volunteers who
provide critical services and support to their
own communities in times of emergencies and
disasters and to see first-hand the impact of
the initiatives which have been put in place and are
planned to enhance community safety and emergency
management preparedness in these communities.
We are working collaboratively with these communities
to build their capacity to prevent, prepare for, and
respond to a range of emergencies and disasters.
As a statewide organisation it is important to have
an appreciation of the challenges faced by our staff
and volunteers working in remote areas and this visit
certainly provided that opportunity. This month will see
the launch of the DES Corporate Plan 2007-2011, which
consolidates and builds on what we’ve achieved to
date and outlines the necessary strategies that need
to be put in place to optimise our service delivery to
the community. The plan provides pertinent strategic
directions around maintaining the focus on supporting
our staff and volunteers and on continuously improving
our operations right across all services. I look forward
to working with all staff across the portfolio to translate
this plan into action over the coming months. I would
like to thank QSuper for accepting our invitation to
include an article (pg 30) in this edition on changes
to superannuation entitlements and specifically on
their new Transition to Retirement strategy. I’m sure
you will agree that under this strategy there are a wider
range of choices out there today for staff considering
such a transition. I look forward to participating in the
2007 Ambulance Week and wish to thank all the staff
and volunteers across the state for their continued
professionalism, commitment and dedication to
creating a safer Queensland.
Fiona McKersie
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Photo by Craig Burridge
Strategic planning workshop a success
The QAS is busier than ever and as
ambulance officers we deal with the
community every day under sometimes
very distressing circumstances. We are
there for some of the most emotional
times in people’s lives and while we
witness a lot of tragedy, we also have
some very satisfying moments when lives
are saved.
community and to interact with the
community under less stressful
circumstances.
It’s also a time when we can
highlight, through community and
media events, some of our most
important safety messages.
I’m very proud of the achievements
we have made in the past year,
including the new Rural and
Remote program, the roll-out of
the meningococcal vaccine in
ambulances, the new defibrillator
program and the ongoing
relationship with China.
Ambulance Week is a time when
we can publicly recognise and
acknowledge the dedicated and
professional team who make the
QAS a world leader in emergency
medical care.
I ask and encourage everyone to get
behind this week-long celebration
and rejoice in being part of the
Queensland Ambulance Service.
Our service to the community does not
go unnoticed. Ambulance Week is a time
for us to celebrate our role within the
Jim Higgins ASM
QAS Commissioner
the high level of interaction from all the
participants.
I was particularly heartened by the
willingness of staff to explain their
concerns to me and air their views about
current challenges and opportunities to
improve our service into the future.
A number of issues were closely
examined, including our relationship
with Queensland Health, improving
communications with staff and of course
rostering arrangements.
A
broad cross-section of ambulance
staff have attended a highly
successful Strategic Planning Workshop
on the Sunshine Coast.
One hundred and fifty stakeholders
from the Queensland Ambulance
Service, Local Ambulance Committees,
Queensland Health, the Liquor,
Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’
Union and universities attended.
The purpose was to develop a common
vision for the QAS as we confront new
challenges.
It was a highly productive and rewarding
workshop and I was impressed by
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
A draft strategic plan will be available in
the near future for further consultation.
Meanwhile, Ambulance Week is here.
EMERGENCY September 2007
5
Volunteering for the future
and remote areas, where volunteers
are essential to ensuring the safe
management of incidents.
As an organisation we need to ensure
we have the right volunteers in the
right places and in sufficient numbers
to respond in an appropriate manner.
However, factors such as regional
growth and population shifts within
rural and remote Queensland make
attracting and retaining volunteers
more and more difficult.
Q
FRS is committed to providing
effective emergency response
services through our rural fire
service volunteers.
We rely heavily on more than 36,000
volunteers who make up 1,541 rural fire
brigades around the state.
However, among the challenges identified
in the 2007-11 QFRS Strategic Plan is our
organisation’s ability to continue to build
on our capacity to attract, retain and train
volunteers to meet future challenges and
community expectations.
The challenge of attracting and retaining
volunteers is especially evident in rural
6
EMERGENCY September 2007
QFRS is one of several community
service providers competing for those
same volunteers to support their
own service delivery needs in these
communities.
An ageing population and changing
work patterns means the need to
attract younger people to volunteering
is a growing priority of many
community service providers.
Ensuring our volunteer base continues
to remain strong, and our recruiting
of volunteers into the future is steady,
will spread the workload crucial to our
organisation’s ability to reduce the risk
of injury in line with the department’s
ZEROharm – All Injuries Are Preventable
policy.
Also crucial in this area will be our
ability to deliver world-class training
to all QFRS volunteer firefighters,
in line with the department’s aligned
training systems.
As we enter the traditional bushfire
period in Queensland, the training,
skills and above all commitment of all
rural fire volunteers will again be relied
upon to meet community expectations
in the areas of bushfire mitigation and
emergency response.
I believe, through the commitment of
our volunteers and those involved in
QFRS Rural Operations, we are currently
meeting those expectations.
However, the time is right to ensure we
are in a position to meet community
expectation well into the future.
Lee A Johnson AFSM MIFireE
QFRS Commissioner
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Photo by Sarah Scragg
SES Training Rolls Out
particularly in the area of training.
EMQ is currently rolling out the
Enhancing Equipment and Training to
Emergency Service Volunteers package
which is part of the government’s
$52 million commitment to all
Emergency Service volunteers.
I
recently had the opportunity to visit
several SES units around the state and
was impressed with the progress which
has been made in a number of areas
throughout the organisation.
The purpose of the trip was to give those
working at the service delivery level the
opportunity to raise issues and discuss
progress and I was impressed with the
quality of the feedback and range of
opinions expressed.
The trip reaffirmed views that we are on
the right track in regards to the direction
and priorities for SES volunteers,
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
One of the key components in EMQ’s
ability to enhance volunteer training
both within the SES and across the
department will be the appointment
of 13 extra staff into the regions and
additional staff to EMQ headquarters.
As this column goes to print some of
these appointments have been filled,
while the remaining positions are well
on the way to being finalised.
Those appointed to the positions
will be involved in overseeing and
delivering training, while also ensuring
an appropriate standard of training for
volunteers and other local and state
government agencies participating in
the disaster management system.
By having these staff in place, EMQ will
be able to increase the flexibility
of training available for all our
volunteers and improve our capacity to
delivering training. That means more
volunteers will have access to more
training, right across the state.
I’ve set a target to double the number
of courses available to volunteers over
the next 12 months.
By offering more widespread training
and flexibility within our training
regime, we are effectively improving
our service to Queenslanders and
ensuring all volunteers are more
skilled and able to perform tasks more
efficiently and safely.
There will also be an increase in support
and development offered across all
disciplines to trainers, who are also
volunteers.
This is an exciting development for the
SES and I look forward to getting more
feedback on these initiatives.
Frank Pagano AFSM
Executive Director
Emergency Management Queensland
EMERGENCY September 2007
7
A long ride home
By Jonathon Hall
I
t’s not every day you see a rescue
helicopter being given a ride home.
But that’s exactly what happened last
month when an Army helicopter flew
into Cairns carrying the EMQ rescue
chopper beneath it.
An incredible sight as the army Chinook
airlifts the EMQ helicopter back to
Cairns airport.
The drama began on Sunday 22 July
at 4:48am when the pilot had to make
a precautionary landing during an
aerial search near Palmer River Camp,
approximately 184 kilometres northwest of Cairns.
The pilot landed safely and no-one
was injured but the chopper could not
be moved.
EMQ Chief Pilot Trevor Wilson was one
of the first notified.
“Once we found out it was on the
ground we had to get as much data as
we could from the pilot to ascertain the
extent of the problem.
“That information was passed onto
our engineers who determined
considerable preventative maintenance
inspections had to be done.
“Due to the inaccessibility of the area
the only option was to retrieve the
aircraft rather than take those parts to
the site,” Trevor said.
It quickly became apparent the retrieval
was going to take some time.
The Townsville EMQ helicopter was sent
on the Sunday afternoon to pick up
the stranded crew, while SES members
camped out next to the aircraft to
provide security.
Palmer River Camp is very isolated,
with the nearest sealed road more than
40 kilometres away.
“Because the helicopter was
inaccessible by road, we couldn’t get
a low-loader truck to the scene.
“The terrain, dirt and sand would’ve
made it an almost impossible task to get
a truck in even if it could use the road.
“We knew moving it by road had the
potential to cause vibration levels
which could damage the avionics and
gyros on board,” Trevor said.
An airlift quickly became the favoured
method of retrieval.
“We knew within Australia there really
was only one option which was an
Army Chinook.”
8
EMERGENCY September 2007
Photo by Elenor Tedenborg, Cairns Post
After negotiations with the Federal
Government an agreement was
reached for the Defence Force to airlift the
helicopter.
aerial survey of the site while Army
riggers headed to Townsville to practice
the airlift procedures on the EMQ
helicopter based there.
The operation required precision planning.
EMQ engineers went on site on
Wednesday, 25 July to defuel the
helicopter and remove the HF antenna,
four main rotor blades and tail rotor.
A Boeing CH-47 Chinook was provided by
the 5th Aviation Regiment in Townsville.
A Blackhawk helicopter conducted an
“Due to the inaccessibility of the area the
only option was to retrieve the aircraft
rather than take those parts to the site.”
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
The stranded helicopter had to be moved onto a makeshift dirt helipad ahead of the airlift by the Army Chinook.
Defence Force personnel connected the
two helicopters with an intricate set of
cables and slings.
At 11:47am on Friday, amid a cloud of
red dust, the Chinook took to the sky
with the four tonne EMQ chopper
slung below.
“Seeing it come back in was a huge relief,
it was pretty weird seeing it being carried
home like that and it’s a sight I hope we
don’t ever have to see again.”
It was shadowed by the Central
Queensland Rescue Helicopter
from Mackay.
“When it touched down it was perfect,
there wasn’t even one bounce.
Flying at speeds of 60 knots the convoy
arrived at the EMQ Helicopter Rescue
base at Cairns at 1:30pm.
“The defence guys set it down very
gently, which is a tribute to their
professionalism,” Paul said.
The flight would normally take an hour
but with headwinds it took two hours.
EMQ Executive Director Frank Pagano
said the rescue mission went smoothly.
EMQ Senior Air Crew Officer Paul Tongue
was given the task of explaining the
operation to the gathered media at
Cairns airport.
“This operation demonstrated the
capability of our staff, volunteers
and other agencies to work together
seamlessly.
“The logistics of retrieving our
helicopter were extremely complicated
and we were grateful for the assistance
of the Australian Defence Force.
“I would like to commend everyone
involved, particularly the Australian
Defence Force, the SES and our own
EMQ staff in Helicopter Services and
at the rescue bases in Cairns and
Brisbane.”
“Seeing it coming back into the airport
there was such a sense of relief as it was
the end of a successful mission where so
many things may have gone wrong.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Frank also praised the various
community helicopter providers who
supported the mission.
“I’d like to thank the Rockhampton
Capricorn Helicopter Rescue
Service which covered CQ Rescue’s
Mackay operations while it assisted
with the retrieval,” Frank said.
EMQ deployed its Brisbane based
Bell 412 helicopter to Cairns on
30 July to provide emergency
helicopter services for Cairns.
With the mission complete, chief
pilot Trevor Wilson said he was just
happy to have the helicopter back
in the hangar.
“Seeing it come back in was a huge
relief, it was pretty weird seeing it
being carried home like that and
it’s a sight I hope we don’t ever
have to see again.” n
EMERGENCY September 2007
9
Multi-agency response to oil leak
By Jonathon Hall and Gemma Marks
“The various
agencies worked
extremely well
together ensuring
residents were
fed and kept
comfortable as they
waited for news.”
A
full scale inter-agency incident that
occurred at Algester, Brisbane on
July 27 has highlighted the teamwork
and cooperation shown daily by the
Emergency Services.
At 5:40am on Saturday morning, a
resident leaving for work phoned Triple
Zero to report a gas smell near his home.
Firefighters responded to the area
and determined that the smell was
crude oil which was leaking from
a ruptured pipeline.
The leak had come from the Santos Oil
pipeline which passed under bushland
next to Mount Maroon Street. This
pipeline usually carries up to one
million litres of oil every day to the
Caltex Refinery at Lytton.
Oil had begun pouring into a nearby
storm water drain and pooling on the
10
EMERGENCY September 2007
ground, and it became clear a
large-scale response would be needed.
By 5:48am a massive evacuation was
underway. Doorknocking began and
approximately 400 homes in Algester,
and the surrounding area, were
evacuated.
At 6:05am, and at 6:15am Police
invoked the Public Safety Preservation
Act 1986 and called for all homes within
a one kilometre radius of the leak to
be evacuated.
Residents were advised to go to the
Algester Primary School, just a few
streets away, which was set up as
an evacuation point.
The overall incident was managed
very efficiently by QFRS, who had
a total of 17 appliances on scene,
including 11 support vehicles.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
“Everything had been thought of,
from baby changing areas to tea and
coffee facilities and toys for the kids
to play with.”
The Regional Fire Co-ordination Centre
(RFCC) at AFcom in Spring Hill was
also activated to assist in incident
management.
with,” Mr Roberts said.
Multiple agencies attended the scene
and supported QFRS, including EMQ,
QAS, Queensland Police Service (QPS),
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and Brisbane City Council (BCC).
Many residents chose not to stay at
the centre, instead visiting family
and friends and continuing with their
weekend plans.
The BCC, in conjunction with Santos,
called in vacuum trucks to help
remove the oil pools and earth moving
equipment to help contain the leak.
Contaminated topsoil was also
removed from the site around
the pipeline.
More than 125 000 litres of oil and
topsoil were removed from the site
during the first day alone.
During the incident, QFRS scientific
officers continually monitored the
air quality.
The owners of the pipeline sent two
staff to the school and paid for food
and drinks for the evacuees.
However, there was still a large group
of residents who did stay at the school;
some having nowhere else to go.
Some tried to sleep, while SES
members started an impromptu game
of basketball with the children in
the hall to help them pass the time.
Other residents provided their own
entertainment strumming away
on guitars.
A 16-year-old resident celebrating her
birthday received a song and a piece of
cake complete with candles from
SES members.
At 4:45pm, 11 hours after the
drama began, the QPS revoked the
safety cordon.
At 5.00pm residents were given the
all clear to return home. However
a select few were informed that it
wouldn’t be advisable to return home
until the following day.
Back at the site, clean-up crews still
faced a long night ahead.
By 10.00pm all QFRS resources
had left the site, leaving the EPA
to monitor environmental and
community impact, and also to
manage the incident and the
remaining clean-up operation in
conjunction with Santos, QPS, Chubb
Security and the Salvation Army. n
Various agencies worked together to
establish the evacuation centre at the
Algester Primary School.
Local SES members set up seating and
refreshments, while Police registered
details of evacuated residents.
QFRS media liaison staff provided
information updates to residents
and the public, and QAS paramedics
checked on elderly evacuees.
An 1800 number was also set up
for residents seeking advice on
the incident.
Department of Communities, Red Cross
and EMQ representatives also assisted.
Minister for Emergency Services Neil
Roberts dropped by to speak to families
in the evacuation centre.
“I was very impressed by the operation,
to see so many agencies working side
by side and looking after the residents
was great.”
The Minister also praised the high level
of organisation.
“The various agencies worked extremely
well together ensuring residents were
fed and kept comfortable as they waited
for news.
“Everything had been thought of, from
baby changing areas to tea and coffee
facilities and toys for the kids to play
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
EMERGENCY September 2007
11
Atherton firies top the State
Director-General Fiona McKersie with winning Atheton Firefighting Championship team Trent Freeman, Jimmy Isabella, Jacob Wedman
and Robert Zappala.
by Gemma Marks
A
therton Fire Station was crowned
the Queensland champions after
taking out the prestigious winning
flag at the 2007 State Firefighter
Championships at Munroe Martin
Park, Cairns on July 27-28.
Trent Freeman, Jimmy Isabella,
Robert Zappala and Jacob Wedman
have won the right to represent
QFRS at the Australasian Firefighter
Championships to be held in October
at Lakes Entrance, Victoria. They will
be joined by runners-up Mt Tamborine,
along with last year’s winners, Monto
and Wondai.
QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson
said the event continues to grow and
showcase the quality of skills being
produced by Queensland firefighters.
“It was so competitive that the judges
couldn’t split the top three competitors
in the race for the title of Champion
Firefighter,” Lee said.
The Champion Firefighter was a
three-way tie between Shane Weber
(Wondai), Matt Given (Mt Tamborine)
and Gary Larter (Mt Tamborine).
12
“It was so competitive that the judges
couldn’t split the top three competitors
for the title of Champion Firefighter.”
All teams performed drills and
displayed their skills to the public,
showcasing the teamwork and
dedication firefighters display every
day as they respond to a range of
emergency incidents.
“Competitions give firefighters
the opportunity to enhance their
operational skills, build stronger
teams, establish camaraderie with
other stations and brigades around
the state and pass invaluable fire safety
information on to local communities,”
said Lee.
“A Community Safety Expo was held
in conjunction with this event and in
excess of 3,000 people were treated
to the highest quality of community
safety demonstrations, education,
advice and displays.
“Fire Awareness Week began the day
after the championships and this Expo
highlights our commitment to ensuring
our fire safety message is heard in all
corners of the community.”
EMERGENCY September 2007
There were 21 teams, including two
from NSW, contesting this year’s event,
and good support, good competition
and good camaraderie was shown by
all. The 2008 State Championships will
be held in Toowoomba.
The top 10 teams
for 2007 were:
1. Atherton
2. Mt Tamborine
3. Wondai
4. Monto
5. Kawana
6. Kilcoy
7. Mareeba
8. Moranbah
9. Kilcoy
10. Killarney
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
QAS Paramedics face foreign challenge
to use lifts as precedence was not given
to the sick or injured.
Another challenge the couple
experienced was negotiating the busy
highways and uneducated drivers
blocking emergency vehicles.
“Most of the highways have eight lanes
of traffic and are separated by concrete
barriers or gardens so you needed to
know the precise location of the accident,
whether it is inbound or outbound,”
Mrs Barnett said.
She said Singapore’s government
enticed drivers to move out of the way
of emergency vehicles by rewarding
them or fining them if they didn’t get
out of the way.
Day crew paramedics at Singapore’s central ambulance station.
H
igh rise buildings without lifts and
congested eight-lane highways
were some of the challenges two
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)
paramedics faced while working in
Singapore this year.
Millaa Millaa Officer-in-Charge Sandi
Barnett and her husband Bob, an
Advanced Care Paramedic, travelled
to the island nation as part of a 10-day
working and information sharing trip
organised by the Australian College
of Ambulance Professionals (ACAP).
flats have elevators that only service
every three floors,” Mrs Barnett said.
“Patients have to be carried out on a
canvas carry stretcher, down at least
three flights of stairs, manoeuvred
onto a stretcher which converts to a
large wheelchair, crammed into an
elevator which holds the patient,
a paramedic and one other person
if they are very slim.”
She said it was often the case that
patients would have to wait in line
“Paramedics can take a picture of the
car and number plate of a driver who
obstructs them and they are fined and
if they see someone get out of the
way they get points as part of a
reward system.”
“One of the
challenges
paramedics faced in
Singapore was the
lack of access to
high-rise buildings.”
The couple, who were married in
Singapore 23 years ago, worked with
Singapore’s ambulance service,
which is a division of Singapore’s
Civil Defence Force.
ACAP and the defence force share
a memorandum of understanding.
Mrs Barnett said the trip had been
a valuable learning experience.
“It opened my eyes to the quality of
the QAS and the high standards it has,”
Mrs Barnett said.
“They (Singapore’s paramedics) do the
best they can with what they have.
They are very dedicated.”
She said one of the challenges
paramedics faced in Singapore was
the lack of access to high-rise buildings
where much of the country’s older
population resides.
“The majority of Singaporeans live in
high-rise flats formed into miniature
all-inclusive communities and the older
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
QAS Paramedic Sandy Barnett observes a Singapore Quarantine Unit training drill.
EMERGENCY September 2007
13
Multi-agency
response to oil leak
Ambulance Week 2007
Jonathon
Halland Gemma Marks
By Craig
Burridge
Photo by Michael Marston
Ambulance Week (September 10–16) is
an opportunity to recognise staff and
promote important community safety
initiatives such as learning CPR.
QAS Commissioner Jim Higgins said this
year’s theme “Every Second Counts”
highlighted the need for people to learn
skills such as CPR and first aid.
“It is critical that everyone knows what
to do in an emergency,” Commissioner
Higgins said.
He said Ambulance Week was a time
to celebrate the role of the QAS within
the community.
“I ask and encourage everyone to get
behind this week-long celebration and
celebrate being part of the Queensland
Ambulance Service.”
Ambulance Week is also the time to
recognise the dedication of staff and
the support of the community with a
number of award ceremonies being
held across the seven regions.
The Star Care and Commissioner’s
Awards recognise outstanding service
to QAS and include:
•
Paramedic of the Year
•
Station of the Year
•
Emergency Medical Dispatcher
•
Young Hero of the Year
Emergency will have details of the
winners in the next edition.
Non-denominational memorial services
to remember officers who have died
while on duty and those that have died
following devoted service are also a
significant part of Ambulance Week.
Since 1920, 31 paramedics have
died in an effort to save a life. QAS
Commissioner Jim Higgins said
saving lives is by nature a dangerous
occupation.
“I ask and encourage everyone to get
behind this week-long celebration and
celebrate being part of the Queensland
Ambulance Service.”
14
EMERGENCY September 2007
“Paramedics understand the dangers
involved in the job and are highly
trained to avoid such hazards.”
To assist ambulance stations plan and
promote local activities all stations
received an electronic Ambulance
Week CD-ROM.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
“Without these people I wouldn’t be
here now, they saved my life.”
Team effort saves life
An undertaker is not the first person
you’d expect to be part of a team
of good samaritans who saved the
life of a 48-year-old Arana Hills man.
The irony still makes heart attack
survivor Chris Hays chuckle after one
of his life savers Egan Blinkhorn told
him he worked at a morgue.
Looking at him, you’d never think
Mr Hays had suffered a heart attack
after collapsing during his regular
afternoon walk on Osborne Road
at Arana Hills.
The self-confessed healthy eater
and exerciser said if it wasn’t for the
actions of three Mount Maria High
School students, an off-duty nurse,
the undertaker and one man who
still remains a mystery, he would
not be here today.
A First Aid class practices CPR on mannequins.
Photo by Craig Burridge
“Since 1920, 31
paramedics have
died in an effort to
save a life.”
The CD offers suggestions about
activities to run for the community
during Ambulance Week and provides
media tips and resources to publicise
events.
The September CPR Challenge, running
in conjunction with Queensland
Ambulance Week, was held on Monday.
Emergency will let you know whether it
was a world-record breaking event.
The challenge was designed to
expose more people to CPR and
raise awareness of the importance
of knowing the new ratio: 30
compressions to every two breaths.
Without these skills many people might
not be around today. The following
accounts put a face to the theory of
CPR and show the need for people of
all ages to learn it. n
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
“I’ve almost recovered 100 per cent
now. But without these people I
wouldn’t be here now, they saved
my life,” Mr Hays said.
“I’m one of the very, very lucky few.”
According to Mr Hays’s wife Colleen,
the three students Alec McInerney,
Zane Yow Yeh and Zack Wiggins
were the first to sound the alarm to
the Queensland Ambulance Service,
followed by Mr Blinkhorn who was
relaying CPR instructions from the
Emergency Medical Dispatcher to
the others.
She said they were followed by
nurse Louise Kozlovskis and
a mystery man who continued
CPR until paramedics arrived.
Now six months on Mr Hays has
returned to his regular walk and will
be taking part in this month’s CPR
Challenge held during Queensland
Ambulance Week.
“I’ve been a first aider for 10 years
at work,” Mr Hays said.
“I would encourage everyone to learn
CPR, you’ll never know when you
might need it.”
But he is still yet to meet the final
person who offered the vital help
which kept him alive.
“It would be nice to meet him,”
he said.
“I went back to the club, shook each
of their hands and thanked them
from the bottom of my heart.”
Survivor bowled over by support
This time next year Ezzi Sciani will
celebrate 50 years of playing bowls.
The sprightly 75-year-old from Home
Hill, just south of Ayr on the North
Queensland coast, is itching to get
back on the green after recovering
from a cardiac arrest which nearly
drew the curtains on a sparkling
bowls career.
“They reckon I was already gone,”
Mr Sciani said.
But a retired doctor and a couple
of bowls partners used their skills in
CPR to breathe life back into Mr Sciani.
“Without them I wouldn’t be here,”
he said.
“I went back to the club to thank them
and shook each of their hands and
thanked them from the bottom of
my heart.”
Mr Sciani said he had recovered from
the ordeal and was slowly getting
back into his regular lifestyle.
“I’m doing very well now, just waiting
for the doctor to let me play
bowls again.”
And if 50 years of bowls wasn’t
enough of an anniversary, Mr Sciani
recently celebrated his son’s
50th birthday.
“I guess my time just wasn’t up,”
he said.
EMERGENCY September 2007
15
The way it’s done in the far north
Thursday Island paramedic Deidre Whap.
Photo by Nicola Mitchell
Sunset in the Cape
by Nicola Mitchell
“I mostly help the
local people to be
able to respond
to emergency
situations. I get
them to a point
where they can
get themselves
over the line.”
H
they’re going to run a first aid course
for the first time.
It’s a different way of life out here,
a different way of thinking.
Being so remote, it’s critical residents
learn life saving procedures such as CPR
to be able to handle medical situations
until help arrives.
undreds of kilometres away
from Cairns, along rocky, windy
four-wheel-drive tracks, you’ll find
the communities of Cape York.
There isn’t a shop on every corner,
or even every half hour. You won’t
necessarily find the ambulance
station just down-town either, or
the Fire Service.
Property owners live hours from the
closest large centre and that’s just the
way they like it.
At Lakeland Downs where the
population is just 126, the majority
of residents are involved with the
Emergency Services. Many are members
for all three volunteer units – the SES,
Ambulance First Responders and the
Rural Fire Service.
At Crocodile Station, just out of Laura,
16
EMERGENCY September 2007
“We really need to do it because most
of us don’t have a clue,” said the
manager of Crocodile Station,
Roy Shepherd.
“We’ve been talking about it for a while
because we’ve got a few people about
the place now. We’ve got first aid kits
in all the cars.”
Queensland Ambulance field officers,
like Rod Muller, take care of many such
courses and also encourage Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people to
consider a career in the QAS.
The QAS now sets aside five per cent
of its intake for Indigenous people.
They can be trained as paramedics,
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
“I’ve been on the Cape for four years.
I’ve had some really good moments
up here. You also get to travel heaps
and the fishing’s not bad either.”
Emergency Medical Dispatchers or as
patient transport officers.
The Indigenous owners of Kulpa Station,
beyond Laura, will also be asking
the QAS to run first aid courses for
their workers.
During Cyclone Monica, they had
to get medications flown in and it was
a frightening time for them all.
Rod Muller is the QAS Field Officer for
their region.
He’s based at Coen and runs various
first aid courses around his patch, which
extends from Lockhardt to Mapoon.
“I do courses for all kinds of people,
including Indigenous groups and
cray fishermen.
“I’m going to run one on the traditional
lands at Kulpa. It’s better to run it here
than at Coen because that way I get a
captive audience. There’s nowhere else
for them to go out here. I also do a lot
of work teaching injury prevention.
“I also do a lot of work with health
workers. They’re the ones who run
the ambulances out here. I usually go
out with the nurses but they have to
know how to work in a pre-hospital
environment – I teach them that.
“Most of my work is community work.
I’m also a volunteer firie.
“If I’m in the community when
something goes down, I’ll go to it.
For example, there was a big car
accident recently, with seven people
injured and five flown out. I mostly
help the local people to be able to
respond to emergency situations. I
get them to a point where they can get
themselves over the line.
“There are some cultural sensitivities
to take into account. You have to learn
the significance of specific words.
“I’ve been on the Cape for four years.
I’ve had some really good moments
up here. You get a real sense of
ownership and achievement. You also
get to travel heaps and the fishing’s
not bad either.”
Andrew Fritsche is the Officer-inCharge at Bamaga. There are two
paramedics stationed there, working
from the tip of mainland Australia to
Heathlands, three hours away.
Cook MP Jason O’Brien and Wujal Wujal Council
CHairman Desmond Tayley open the Wujal Wujal
SES Shed.
“We don’t get a great deal of emergency
work – about 30 jobs a month. It’s
mostly local work. We get quite a few
motorbike accidents,” Andrew said.
“If we got a big job though, it is a big
community effort. There are challenges
to how you can work out here.
It changes how you operate. It’s not
so much working on-scene. The hospital
is very close fortunately. It’s generally
easier to bring patients here and treat
them here.
“We also help the hospital staff out
a lot. We do intubations for them and
stuff like that. We assist in stabilising
patients,” Andrew said. n
DES Director-General Fiona McKersie and EMQ Executive Director Frank Pagano visited Warraber Station SES members on their recent trip to the Cape.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
EMERGENCY September 2007
17
“At the end of the
day it is exercises
like ‘Smoking Guns’
that give QFRS the
ability to train in
a controlled
environment and
improve our
operational
capacity.”
observation and one fixed-wing craft for
aerial ignition. The exercise included
the establishment of an air base
adjacent to the airstrip (maintained
by Millmerran Shire Council) on the
Sporting Shooters’ land and gave
QFRS an opportunity to monitor
its effectiveness.
Smoking guns burn
around Millmerran
by Chantelle Rule
T
he fields of the Sporting Shooters’
Association of Australia, south-west
of Millmerran, were a flurry of activity at
the end of July for the ‘Smoking Guns’
operational exercise.
Nearly 80 QFRS, Parks and Wildlife,
Natural Resources and Water and Forest
Products personnel (including 40 rural
volunteers), conducted a large scale
fuel reduction burn over around 2,800
hectares on July 28–29.
operation which was divided into three
burns.
Rural Division Commander for the
exercise, Brian Cook said extensive
planning and preparation took place
before the burn.
“From the moment the crews arrived
to the moment they left we had their
itinerary mapped out for them,”
he said.
While 613 hectares of the burn took place
on the Sporting Shooters’ site, more than
2,200 hectares of state forest was burnt
adjacent to the property as part of the
inter-agency exercise.
“On the Saturday morning every person
who took part in the exercise was
briefed on the weekend’s activities and
was told when, where and what they
were expected to do.”
A joint agency Incident Management
Team was established at the Millmerran
Auxiliary Fire Station to manage the
Ten air operations personnel took to the
skies operating two fixed-wing water
bombers, one fixed-wing craft for air
18
EMERGENCY September 2007
The exercise aimed to assess the
effectiveness of the establishment
and operations of the Millmerran
Incident Control Centre and monitor
the effectiveness of the interoperability
between agencies.
It also gave personnel a chance
to enhance their skills gaining new
competencies and qualifications,
while preparing for the upcoming
bushfire season.
“Because of the degree of
professionalism from each crew,
the weekend ran very smoothly,”
Brian said.
“The burn was very successful in
reducing fuel loads and the exercise
went according to plan.
“Of course, as with every exercise,
there were observations to be made
and lessons to be learnt and we will
take all of these on board to improve
future operations.
“At the end of the day it is exercises
like ‘Smoking Guns’ that give QFRS
the ability to train in a controlled
environment and improve our
operational capacity. We are confident
that operations like this one make
the South West Region a safer place
for all,” Brian said.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Dazzling DES display
By Kylie McIntosh
Photos by Kylie McIntosh
I
n among the fairy floss, ferris wheels
and funky show bags Department
of Emergency Services (DES) staff
were hard at work in the Queensland
Government pavillion at this year’s Ekka.
Over 107,000 people visited the pavillion
and many of them stopped in at the DES
display to play the ‘Kidna’ computer
games, pick up tattoos, magnets and
scratch ‘n’ sniff cards or just brush up on
their safety knowledge.
Other key messages featured at the display
included:
0
0
0
0
0
phoning Triple Zero in an emergency
joining the CPR challenge and learning first aid
installing smoke alarms
becoming an emergency services volunteer
promoting the new SES number: 132 500
On behalf of DES a big thank
you to all the volunteers who
staffed this year’s display.
Below: Station Officer Trevor
Butterfield congratulates Jack Bruce
after he adds his ‘footprint’ to
the wall.
The computer games and DES ‘Kidna’
characters were used to convey
safety messages.
Children who demonstrated preparation
in an emergency were encouraged
to attach their velcro footprint to the
wall display.
By the end of the show over 13,000
footprints had been stuck onto the
ultra-violet lit wall.
The kids loved it. They thought
the scratch ‘n’ sniff smoke cards
were ‘cool’. And they couldn’t wait to put
their ‘footprints’ on the wall.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
EMERGENCY September 2007
19
Out in the cold - Cadet’s bush camp
By Anna Warby
E
mergency Service Cadets
across the state had a busy
month attending exercises,
workshops and award ceremonies.
The Maroochydore Cadet Group
won the HS Christie Award for
Excellence which recognises cadet
group proficiency.
The whole crew
O
ne of the coldest nights on record
greeted 39 Emergency Services’
cadets from the Far Northern Region
during their recent five-day bush camp.
Groups huddled close to the camp fire
as the minus seven degree temperatures
proved to be a shock to the system,
particularly for Torres Strait cadets.
Daytime activities for the camp at
Mt Carbine, two hours north-west of
Cairns, included a bush trek locating
waypoints and searching for evidence
of a plane crash.
Raft building, orienteering and obstacle
course activities were interspersed with
challenging games of Laser Tag where
the adult leaders were a popular target.
The recent Cadet Achievement
Awards for outstanding
achievements of individual cadets
in the categories of community
service, community safety,
leadership and inspiration were
awarded to Cadets from Cairns,
Rosewood, Southport, Goodna,
South West and Maroochydore.
At night, the soft sand of the Macleod
River bank was a welcome respite as
camp activities continued with oven
cooking and a damper competition.
Cadets also took part in an exciting
display of practise/training drops at an
old airfield near the camp, involving the
Australian Maritime Safety Authorities’
new Dornier 328 dedicated search and
rescue aircraft.
As new friendships formed, when it
was time to go home there was a chorus
of ‘Noooooo, we want more, more.’
Everyone agreed it was the best
camp ever.
Clifton Cadets May Day march at Chinchilla.
Photo by Lara Wilde.
Tough Book enhancements give paramedics more time
next stage of the project was finished
later next year.
Under the plan, paramedics would be
able to transfer data directly from tough
books to hospital computers in a bid to
save more time and reduce paperwork.
A state-wide rollout of the tough book
was completed in December last year
and since its introduction in mid-2006;
it has been used to complete more than
510,000 reports.
Mr Folliot said so far paramedics had
provided positive feedback about the
electronic forms.
“I heard about one guy who started
emailing his daughter in England after
he learnt to use a tough book,” he said.
Q
Paramedics will have the chance to
voice any ideas or concerns they have
about the tough books at workshops
to be held this month.
ueensland Ambulance Service (QAS)
paramedics will soon be able to
access and transfer completed patient
reports with the touch of a button.
SIMI project co-ordinator Anthony
Folliot said access to the reports
electronically meant stations would
no longer need a printed copy.
The Strategic Information Management
Initiative (SIMI) project team is
working to enhance the already
successful electronic Ambulance Report
Forms (eARF) by storing the reports on
a database.
“We hope to phase out having to print
station copies by the end of the year,”
Mr Folliot said.
“We’re holding a series of workshops
around the state to confirm what
we have planned and to see what
suggestions people have,”
Mr Folliot said.
He said hospitals would still require
a paper version of the report until the
“The project is about time saving and
accuracy for paramedics.”
20
EMERGENCY September 2007
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
And the
winners are…
E
mergency Services Minister
Neil Roberts presented his awards
for excellence at Customs House
last month.
The Awards for Excellence are designed
to recognise outstanding achievements
within Emergency Services and
recognise teams, units and volunteer
groups that have set new standards
within their field. They must also
promote the department’s vision of
creating a safer community and a better
quality of life in Queensland through
world-class emergency and disaster
management services.
Darren Hall and Bronwyn Roulstone showcase their winning award.
The winning projects ranged across
the fields of volunteering, indigenous
training and community safety,
ZEROharm, and new technology.
“I was incredibly impressed with
all those nominated for awards.
“My congratulations go to the winners.
The department’s obviously in very
good shape,” Mr Roberts said.
Debbie Taylor, Sergeant Rodney Bell (QPS)
and Wendy Wakefield (Education
Queensland), display their winning plaque
for Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts
and Director-General Fiona McKersie.
Winning eARF team members Anthony
Folliott, Scott McKinnon, Rachel Chambers,
Yekshsh Chetty, John Little.
Minister Neil Roberts with Kate Broadley,
Kia Daylight-Cashman, Deb Clayton, Helen
Smith and Director-General Fiona McKersie.
QFRS-Critical Incident Stress Management
Disaster Response Team members on the
night Julie Spain, Susan Peters, John Harrison
and Rod Pickett proudly display their plaque.
Five nominations have progressed to
the Premier’s Awards for Excellence in
Public Sector Management to be held
this month.
Director-General Fiona McKersie also
congratulated recipients for their hard
work and high level of commitment
to the projects/initiatives that were
recognised.
“Congratulations to all teams, units and
volunteer groups for their invaluable
contribution to creating a safer
Queensland,” Ms McKersie said.
CATEGORY
WINNER
HIGHLY COMMENDED
LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE
QAS – Pandemic
Planning Project
Valuing Volunteering: The Queensland Government Policy on
Volunteering 2007–2010
ENGAGING AND SERVING
COMMUNITIES
SP&ES – Watch Out!
QAS – Local Numbering Scheme – Thursday Island LAC
QAS – Community Education Program
FOCUSSING ON OUR
PEOPLE
QFRS – CISM Disaster
Response Teams
QAS – Regional Implementation of ZEROharm as part of WHS strategy
INNOVATION AND
CREATIVITY
QAS – eARF
QFRS – Interactive Fire Evacuation Program
QAS – Torres Strait Emergency Ground Transport Project
QFRS – Rural Operations Training Trailer and Fire Simulator
EMQ – 132 500 SES Telephone Number
PARTNERSHIPS AND
RECONCILIATION
BSS – First Step Indigenous
Training Program
QAS, QFRS and EMQ – Woorabinda Community Safety Project
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
EMERGENCY September 2007
21
I did it! – Stuart Maclachlan.
QFRS reigns victorious at
Anaconda Adventure Race
by Chantelle Rule
S
everal QFRS personnel braved the
chilly ocean waters and hilly terrain
around the Gold Coast at the beginning
of August to compete in the 2007
Anaconda Adventure Race.
Sixteen firefighters from South East and
Brisbane regions formed four teams
and donned their race gear to endure
the 1.9km ocean swim, 14km ocean/
river paddle, 12km creek and mountain
run, 17km mountain bike ride and 2km
beach run.
More than 500 people competed in
the event with Guy Andrews taking
out first place.
While there were individual and team
categories, Emergency Services teams
were in a field of their own, racing for
the coveted Emergency Services Shield.
The QFRS Backdraft Burglars team
crossed the line first in a time of four
hours, 38 minutes and 55 seconds.
Team captain Stuart MacLachlan said
it was great to compete against fellow
Emergency Services personnel.
“The race provided the perfect stage for
a bit of friendly competition,” he said.
“This was our second crack at the
race and we were keen to keep the
emergency shield among the firies.”
With all firies completing the course
in less than five-and-a-half hours,
QFRS was successful in retaining
the Emergency Services Shield for
a second year.
In a couple of outstanding
performances, ocean swimmer for
Arson Around, Anthony Brewin blew
competitors out of the water placing
third overall after the first leg, just
behind Coolangatta Gold champ 2006,
Caine Eckstein and Greg Forrestal from
the Flashover Freaks stepped up to
cover for a sick team mate and covered
two legs of the race (paddle and
mountain run) for his team.
As the Wellness program coordinator for
South East Region, Stuart said events
like these are great for firies.
“Once the program comes into force
around the South East and Brisbane
regions, staff will be further encouraged
to have a go in future events such as
this one,” he said.
“The group training provided by the
Wellness program is a fantastic way to
socialise and improve your health and
wellbeing at the same time as working
towards a goal like completing one of
these races.”
Stuart said the teams are looking
forward to future events.
“We will definitely be in next year and
our target then will be to retain the
shield and improve on our time,”
he said.
QFRS results:
1. Backdraft Burglars (Gold Coast)
Four hours, 38 minutes, 55 seconds
2. Arson Around (Gold Coast)
Four hours, 58 minutes, 32 seconds
3. Long Hoses (Brisbane)
Five hours, 15 minutes, 11 seconds
4. Flashover Freaks (Gold Coast)
Five hours, 22 minutes, 50 seconds
Novovirus triggers quick response
Queensland
Ambulance Service
(QAS) paramedics
took no chances on
the Gold Coast
recently, donning full
protection suits while
treating an
89-year-old woman
suffering from the
infectious Norovirus.
More than 120 cases
of the gastroenteritis
bug were detected in
South East
Queensland during
July and August.
Decked out in their
alien-like goggles,
masks and protective
equipment,
paramedics worked
quickly to take the
patient to hospital.
22
EMERGENCY September 2007
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Fire Awareness Week inFire
theAwareness
regions Week
across the regions
Top: Toowoomba Grand Central children participate
in Fire Awareness Week.
A Yeppoon firefighter explaining the
gear used for Road Accident Rescue
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Firefighter Cameron Riggs demonstrates how dangerous it is to throw water on an
oil fire at the kitchen fire display out front of Town Hall on Market Day in Maryborough.
Durack locals gather to watch the fire extinguisher display and ride on the
ladder platform truck.
EMERGENCY September 2007
23
Fire Awareness Week
across the regions
Central region Rural Fire Service Volunteer of
the Year Award was awarded to Sue Ward from
Mutdapilly Rural Brigade.
By Gemma Marks
F
ire Awareness Week (FAW) was
celebrated around the state from
29th July–4th August with several open
days, barbeques and activities being
held to very successfully promote fire
safety in the community.
This year’s FAW continued to evolve
with Bunning’s Hardware contributing
$30,000 in sponsorship, IPG Print
agreeing to print all promotional
materials, and a new Memorandum
of Understanding put in place with
the long-term partner Fire Protection
Association of Australia (FPAA).
This year also saw the introduction of
the FAW Awards to recognise staff who
have contributed to QFRS’ continued
success throughout the past 12 months.
This year’s important message was
‘Don’t gamble with your family’s life;
smoke alarms – have you got yours
yet?’, and there was also a focus on the
new bushfire preparedness initiative,
‘Prepare, Stay and Defend or Go Early’.
Hundreds of events were held to
promote these fire safety messages.
There were walks through children’s
hospitals, letterbox drops with
information regarding the new smoke
alarm legislation, school colouring
competitions, static displays, fire
evacuation drills and open days held
at stations and Bunnings stores
across Queensland.
At many event locations the local firies
touched up on their barbecue skills,
established fire safety and kitchen fire
displays and talked to the public about
fire safety.
Blazer with a budding young firefighter.
“At many event locations the local
firies touched up on their barbecue
skills, established fire safety and
kitchen fire displays and talked
to the public about fire safety.”
24
EMERGENCY September 2007
There was also a lot of support from the
media, with widespread print, television
and radio coverage helping to spread
the fire safety messages.
For example, Toowoomba’s radio
station CFM conducted live crosses each
morning from the Community Safety
Office, Warwick Fire Station, Queens
Park (to promote the Dalby Muster)
and Dalby Fire Station.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
FAW Award Winners
FAR NORTHERN REGION
Fire Officer of the Year
Paul Caesar
Auxiliary Fire Officer of the Year
Bert Dwyer
Rural Fire Service Volunteer of the Year
Ronald Beacroft
Non-operational Officer of the Year
Matt Tucker
Communications Officer of the Year
Lyn Webb
Station of the Year
Cooktown Fire Station
NORTHERN REGION
Fire Officer of the Year
John Williams
Rural Fire Service Volunteer of the Year
Paul Cauchi
Non-operational Officer of the Year
Michelle Lawrence
This year also saw the introduction of
the FAW Awards to recognise staff who
have contributed to QFRS’ continued
success throughout the past 12 months.
CENTRAL REGION
Fire Station of the Year
Blackwater Fire Station
Rural Fire Service Volunteer of the Year
Alistair Chapman
Communications Officer of the Year
Darren McCulloch
Fire Officer of the Year
Barry Semple
Non-operational Officer of the Year
Leisa Christie
NORTH COAST REGION
Rural Fire Service Volunteer of the Year
Lesley Brand
Non-operational Officer of the Year
Neil Kaminski
Communications Officer of the Year
Moira Radel
SOUTH WEST REGION
Rural Fire Service Volunteer of the Year
Malcom Stacey
SOUTH EAST REGION
Rural Fire Service Volunteer of the Year
Sue Ward
BRISBANE REGION
Auxiliary Fire Officer of the Year
Stephen Kranenburg
Rural Fire Service Volunteer of the Year
Allan Wells
STATE OFFICE
Fire Officer of the Year
Bruce Budge
Rural Operations Officer of the Year
Eric Lanham
Non-operational Officer of the Year
Michelle Burgess
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Top: Award recipients with Commissioner Lee Johnson, Michelle Burgess, Bruce Budge and
Eric Lanham; Middle: “I want to be a fireman when I grow up.” Bottom: Firefighter Mary Stark
guiding Lil’ Squirt at the Sarina Show.
EMERGENCY September 2007
25
QAS to launch new corporate DVD
By Craig Burridge
T
of Cairns and through the busy streets
of Brisbane’s CBD.
The DVD will be used for a number
of purposes including recruitment of
student paramedics and screening at
corporate functions to promote the
high level of QAS service provision.
Every facet of what makes a paramedic
tick has been captured on video,
including the treatment of traffic accident
victims, children learning about the QAS
as part of the PrimeSafe program, baby
capsule fittings, first aid training and the
Local Ambulance Committees.
Reel Image Productions will produce
the DVD as a series of shots backed
by a soundtrack by local musician
Pete Murray.
A number of emergency situations
were captured by cameras att ached to
ambulances to provide an insight into
the day of a paramedic.
The aim of the DVD is to provide an
extensive overview of all QAS activities
and services. Paramedics are captured
on the job in recognisable Queensland
locations including the dusty tracks of
Chinchilla, the beaches and cane fields
Everything from what happens in the
ambulance on the way to an emergency
to treatment on scene and transport
to the hospital was recorded.
he Queensland Ambulance Service
(QAS) will release a new corporate
DVD as part of Ambulance Week
celebrations this month.
Milton State School students learn about the
Queensland Ambulance Service as part of the
PrimeSafe program.
The video also highlights the strong
working relationship between all
emergency services including the
Emergency Management Queensland
rescue helicopter.
Paramedics treat a
patient at a popular
tourist spot in Cairns
while being filmed.
Photos by Craig
Burridge
won’t quite be the same
Farewell Mr NDRA Things
around EMQ following the recent
retirement of Keith Hansen.
Keith joined the state government
in 1964 and has supported EMQ
and previous divisions for more than
15 years.
Many know Keith as ‘Mr NDRA’ for his
expertise in natural disaster finance.
Keith represented the department
during many disaster operations,
including 1990 and 1997 Charleville
floods, Cyclone Winifred 1986, citrus
canker and numerous re-supply
operations to flood affected areas
of the Gulf.
During an afternoon ceremony held
at the Department of Emergency
Services complex at Kedron, Keith
discussed some of his creative
solutions to assist disaster-affected
communities.
He encouraged EMQ staff to maintain
networks across units.
Executive Director of EMQ Frank Pagano presents Keith Hansen
with a certificate of appreciation as Di Hansen looks on.
26
EMERGENCY September 2007
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
“The new shirt
component will be
manufactured from a
lighter weight version
of the existing fabric,
which is particularly
suitable for the
Queensland climate.”
jumpsuit including reflective piping,
radio attachment point and additional
pockets for small items of equipment.
Paramedics will now have the option of a two-piece jumpsuit.
No sweat for paramedics this summer
W
ith summer just around the corner
Queensland Ambulance Service
(QAS) paramedics will have the choice
of a new, cooler uniform.
“The new two-piece jumpsuit
incorporates all the practical design
features of the existing jumpsuit,”
he said.
A new two-piece jumpsuit will
incorporate a shirt made from lighter
weight fabric for enhanced breatheability and comfort.
“The new shirt component will
be manufactured from a lighter
weight version of the existing fabric,
which is particularly suitable for the
Queensland climate.”
QAS Commissioner Jim Higgins said
the new two-piece uniform had been
designed with functionality and
comfort in mind.
The new jumpsuit includes a dark
teal shirt and cargo style trousers
and has all the features of the current
Commissioner Higgins said the new
uniform was an initiative of the
State-wide Equipment and Vehicle
Committee (SEVC) and was the result
of extensive consultation with
operational paramedics.
“The jumpsuit is a practical uniform
item that has become very popular
with officers; meeting the needs of
paramedics in the pre-hospital care
environment,” he said.
“However, while officers appreciated
the functionality of the jumpsuit, they
preferred the practicalities and comfort
of two separate items of clothing.”
As part of the introduction of the new
uniform, cargo trousers will now only
be available with reflective piping.
State Emergency Service (SES) Week 2007
P
lanning is underway for SES Week
2007 with the date set for this
year’s event.
to assist their local communities by
volunteering with the State Emergency
Service,“ Eddie said.
This year, SES Week will be celebrated
around Australia from Saturday 10
November to Monday 18 November.
Eddie said this year’s theme will again
focus on thanking volunteers for their
continued service.
The national theme for this year’s
SES Week is: “Ordinary People Doing
Extraordinary Things”.
“The week is a fantastic opportunity
for communities and residents to come
along and say thank you to the SES
volunteers who have assisted their
local communities.”
Director of the Queensland SES Eddie
Bennet said units around the country
will be holding events to celebrate all
that is great about SES volunteers.
“SES Week is a chance to celebrate
the dedication and commitment of
our volunteers.
“In Queensland and across the country,
thousands of men and women selflessly
give up their own time and energy
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
There will also be a national
“Wear Orange to Work” day held on
Wednesday 14 November.
“I’d encourage as many people as
possible to support the day and find
something orange in the wardrobe
to wear as a sign of support for our
amazing volunteers,” Eddie said.
EMERGENCY September 2007
27
Noosa Coast Guards
J
eff Kitchen and Gloria Bruzzone are two
community-minded volunteers who
share a common bond.
Both are Noosa Coast Guard QF5
crew members. About four years ago,
completely independent of each other
they both decided to join the local Noosa
Shire SES unit.
Their motivations for community
volunteering were completely different.
Jeff said: “Initially I joined the Coast
Guard because I used to get a bit sea sick
but now I’m as good as gold on boats.
I joined the SES because I enjoy the
community service.”
Gloria joined the Coast Guard to utilise her
public relations expertise.
“I went out to see how it went on the boats
and I loved it, so now I’m on the crew,”
she explains. “I joined the SES because
someone mentioned the flood boats.”
The two were on SES duty together during
the recent NSW flood deployments.
Volunteers Gloria Bruzzone and Jeff Kitchen.
Rural firies prepare Qld media for bushfire season
Paul Storrs and Brian Cook deliver fire ground training to ABC staff in Toowoomba.
T
hroughout July, August and
September QFRS rural firefighters
visited several media organisations
across the state to deliver vital training
packages to journalists, photographers
and cameramen who may find
themselves on the fire ground during
the 2007 bushfire season.
Fire ground training sessions were held
along the coast from the Gold Coast
to Cairns and west to Longreach for
organisations including:
28
EMERGENCY September 2007
• ABC
• Channel Seven
• WIN TV
• APN newspapers
• News Limited newspapers
The training sessions informed the
media about bushfire behaviour,
advised them on bushfire safety,
and also how QFRS expects them to
act on the fire ground.
It importantly gave the media an
opportunity to ask questions about
bushfire operations and gain an insight
into the various roles firefighters play
on the fire ground.
Many thanks go to Brian Cook, Paul
Storrs, Paul Womersley, Corey Bock,
Winston Williams, John Fisher, Gavin
Fryar, Andrew Houley, Fiona Quirk,
Michael Dodds, Brett Weston, Brendan
Ridgwell, Phil Williams, Gary Seaman,
Andrew Allan, Larry Lewis and Ian
Melody for presenting this safety
information to thankful media crews.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Giant of the sea farewells Brisbane
The USS Kittyhawk made an impressive sight in the Brisbane
River taking up the entire grain wharf berth.
O
ver four days in July thousands of Brisbane residents
flocked to the river to get a glimpse of the giant
American aircraft carrier the USS Kittyhawk.
Huge crowds lined the river at Luggage Point opposite
the grain wharf where the carrier was berthed.
Many took to the river to get an even closer look, with
water police and the SES on hand to control traffic.
The USS Kittyhawk arrived on Thursday 19 July for its
last visit to Brisbane before it’s decommissioned.
The US Navy invited EMQ staff and SES members
aboard the vessel.
Brisbane SES Headquarters support staff Dawn Ford, Ja Kunchanawatta,
Patricia Carnes and Tracey Hudson were among those invited aboard for
a tour of the Kittyhawk.
Fifty EMQ staff and 60 SES members from Brisbane and
the South East were given a tour of the warship.
Looking at the statistics gives an idea of just how big the
Kittyhawk is with a weight of 60,000 tonnes, a length of just
under 324 metres, this leviathan carries 85 aircraft and a crew
of 5,300. After four days as a tourist attraction the Kittyhawk
departed Brisbane on Monday 23 July.
CPR knowledge saves bus driver’s life
I
t was lucky for the driver of a bus
that crashed on the Gold Coast that
an off-duty paramedic happened to
live across the road from the accident
scene. The bus driver had suffered
a heart attack while transporting 18
tourists to the airport. A passenger
managed to steer the out-of-control
bus to a relatively safe stop at Surfers
Paradise, crashing into four parked
cars along the way. In a fortunate twist
of fate, paramedic Shane McEvoy was
at home nearby and heard the crash.
While the passengers were all ok;
the driver was in cardiac arrest.
Mr McEvoy’s CPR knowledge
undoubtedly saved the man’s life.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
EMERGENCY September 2007
29
Not ready to retire yet?
I
f you’ve reached the age when you’re
able to leave work and access your
superannuation (currently 55 and over),
you may be finding yourself struggling
over that big question – when’s the
right time for me to retire? It’s common
for people to put off retirement because
they see it as an irrevocable decision,
and because they still enjoy their work
and the social benefits of being part
of a team.
“You don’t even
have to change your
working conditions
to access an
allocated pension
through a transition
to retirement
strategy.”
If you’re one of those people who finds
themself umming and ahhing about the
ifs, whens, and maybes of retirement
then you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
A relatively new government initiative
called transition to retirement can
help you ease into retirement at your
own pace while using your super to
supplement your income as you cut
back your hours.
A transition to retirement strategy
allows you to use your super to start
up a QSuper Allocated Pension account
and draw an income from it while
still working. This kind of strategy
can be used to help you achieve your
lifestyle goals and cut back your work
commitments, so you can get a taste of
retirement without retiring completely.
30
EMERGENCY September 2007
What are the benefits?
Defined Benefit account
Transition to retirement lets you cut
down the hours you work but still take
home the same amount of income. You
could work part-time, and the income
you receive from your QSuper Allocated
Pension account would supplement
your new salary, so you could still
receive the same total income as you
would have had previously.
If you have a Defined Benefit
account, your multiple will reduce
proportionately by the amount you
transfer to a QSuper Allocated Pension
account. For example, if you have a
final average salary of $50,000 and
your benefit is calculated as six x final
average salary ($50,000), your benefit
would be $300,000. If you transfer
$150,000 of this to a QSuper Allocated
Pension account, your benefit
would reduce by half to three x final
average salary.
You don’t even have to change your
working conditions to access an
allocated pension through a transition
to retirement strategy. You could
continue to work full-time and use a
Once you have transferred this money
QSuper Allocated Pension to provide
from your Defined Benefit account
some or all of your income, allowing
it cannot be returned to the Defined
you to either:
Benefit account – however, if you close
0salary sacrifice more of your pay .
salary sacrifice
of your
pay you can transfer
yourmore
Allocated
Pension
(limits apply) and accumulate more
any remaining funds into a QSuper
money for your retirement
Accumulation account.
0 .use the additional money for other
investments outside of super, or to
reduce debt.
How does it work?
You can open a QSuper Allocated
Pension account with as little as
$30,000 or as much as the whole
balance of your superannuation
account. Once you’ve nominated how
much super you want transferred to
a QSuper Allocated Pension account,
your new account will begin paying you
a pension (a maximum annual limit of
10% of your allocated pension account
balance applies) to supplement your
other income. However, you generally
cannot withdraw lump sums from your
allocated pension account until you’ve
reached your preservation age and
permanently retired.
Accumulation account
If you have an accumulation account,
you simply nominate the amount,
or percentage of your account,
you want to transfer into a QSuper
Allocated Pension account. All your
future superannuation contributions
will continue to be made to your
Accumulation account, regardless
of your allocated pension income
payments or arrangements.
Any super contributions made into
your Defined Benefit account after the
transfer will increase your remaining
multiple at your normal accrual rate.
Of course, if you transferred your entire
balance into your new QSuper Allocated
Pension account, your multiple would
restart from zero.
What happens to my
Defined Benefit account
if I work part-time?
Your defined benefit is calculated using
a multiple of your salary. When you’re
working full-time and contributing five
per cent of your salary, your multiple
grows by 0.21 each year. If you start
working part-time, any multiple you’ve
accrued while working full-time
is unaffected.
Once you start working part-time,
your benefit will continue to be based
on the full-time equivalent of your
salary, but your future multiple growth
will be adjusted proportionally to reflect
your part-time work arrangements.
For example, if you reduce your working
hours from five days a week to four,
you would be working 80% of your fulltime hours, so your annual multiple
growth in the future would be 0.168
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
“If you’re one of
those people who
finds themself
umming and ahhing
about the ifs, whens,
and maybes of
retirement then
you’re in for a
pleasant surprise.”
(0.21 x 80%). Your standard
contributions are calculated using
your full-time equivalent salary,
with a proportionate reduction for
the hours you work.
What do I do next?
You need to be over your preservation
age to take advantage of a transition to
retirement strategy, but you don’t need
to meet any working conditions.
Transition to retirement strategies aren’t
suitable for everyone, and there are
many issues you need to consider, so
if you think you may be interested in a
transition to retirement strategy, talking
with a financial adviser is a great place
to start. Q Invest offers competitivelypriced advice to QSuper members – for
more info on Q Invest’s products and
services check out www.qinvest.com.au
If you are thinking of changing your work
arrangements, you should also talk with
your employer to find out what options
may be available to you.
You can
find more
information
about these issues
in QSuper’s Transition
to retirement fact sheet and
the Working less than full time
guide, which you can download
from the QSuper website at
www.qsuper.com.au. Alternatively
you can give one of QSuper’s friendly
Information Officers a call on
1300 360 750.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Clever Networks project
Cooeenet@qld means fast,
accessible DES communications
M
inister for Communications,
Information Technology
and Arts, Senator the Hon Helen
Coonan, announced funding of $5
million for the Cooeenet project
on 31 July 2007. The funding will
provide high-capacity broadband
services to support health care and
emergency services in Queensland.
Queensland Health and its
partners, the Department of
Emergency Services (DES) and the
e-Health Research Centre have
also committed $6 million to the
initiative and have established the
Cooeenet@qld project to deliver the
identified outcomes.
Cooeenet@qld is primarily focused
on creating the ability to deliver
health and emergency services at
the point of demand, rather than
to a fixed location.
DES will develop generic, modular
and scalable “Emergency
Communications Systems” (ECS)
as the core mobile infrastructure
for small teams of officers and for all
forms of transport as part of
the project.
In summary, DES will develop ECS
to address four operational areas:
• Pre-Hospital Care Connect
• Incident Communications
• Community Communications
• Event/Incident Management
The work will be undertaken over
a two-year period.
“Over the past five years, DES
has invested in ICT to support
operations and to ensure timely
information (verbal, written and
visual) is accessible to whoever
and wherever it is needed
within DES.
“Cyclone Larry and recent
disasters overseas have
demonstrated that DES needed to
expand its mobile and deployable
ICT infrastructure,” Nicholas said.
For more details call Nicholas
Moss on (07) 3247 8052.
The project is supported by
funding from the Australian
Government under the Clever
Networks program.
(L-R) The Hon. Peter Lindsay MP, Federal Member for Herbert; Alan Taylor, Manager,
Strategy and Planning, Queensland Health – Cooeenet@qld Project Director;
The Hon. Mike Reynolds AM MP, Speaker for the Queensland Parliament;
Paul Carroll, Senior Director, Radiology Support, Clinical and Statewide Services,
Queensland Health; Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications,
Information Technology and the Arts; Nicholas Moss, Manager, ICT Business Development,
Department of Emergency Services; Alex Stefan, Director, Information Services,
Department of Emergency Services at the Cooeenet@qld launch in Townsville last month.
EMERGENCY September 2007
31
PART 2
Comparing notes between nations –
The challenge to improve wildfire operations in an increasingly complex environment
US Firies
I
n part two of his interview, QFRS Superintendent Andrew Short has
an in-depth discussion with Chief Mike Rohde, a Battalion Chief with
the Orange County, CA about common challenges confronting their
individual organisations.
Andrew: It would be great if you could
expand on your thoughts about what
you refer to as the Incident Controllers’
(I/C) ‘big decisions’ of life safety,
opportunities for containment, and
property protection. Does keeping
a focus on these key aspects help
simplify what can be a very complex
situation?
Mike:  I’m sure my Australian
counterparts suffer as we do from
an onslaught of radio traffic and
information during a developing wildfire
emergency. The question is for both of
us, ‘what is important’ and ‘how do I
separate the critical communications
from the minutia that I experience?’.
From my experience, it seems that
80 per cent of the communications I
receive may be less than critical.
32
EMERGENCY September 2007
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Thanks and good luck from all
your mates in the States!
We train our fire officers to concentrate
on what we believe are the critical
command issues, and to hone their
skills at recognising them when they
are presented, keeping in mind they are
buried in 80 per cent of other stuff.
only deploy so fast. This community
has been the focus of our planning
and education efforts, but the most
successful effort so far has been the
one the community started themselves.
Using a U.S. federal government
We believe that the important issues
include:
• Life safety (both public and firefighter)
• Exercising opportunities for
containment or control
• Protecting property
• Reinforcing productivity, giving more
resources to successful efforts
• Capturing and coordinating all
responding forces under one
command
• Predicting fire growth and resourcing
needs in a timely and accurate way.
We ask I/Cs to develop disciplines and
skills to pull this data out of what’s
presented and to act on it. We find the
use of an aid or assistant to manage
the radio and support the I/C early-on
in a developing fire allows an I/C much
more freedom to concentrate on these
important issues.
Andrew: Finally Mike, I am interested
in whether you are seeing communities
(individually and as a collective)
taking a larger degree of wildfire
preparedness responsibility for their
local situation? This has been a strong
focus in recent years for us here
in Queensland.
Mike: This is such an important aspect
of our ability to protect communities
and indeed it is growing! When you
were here in the States for a visit
we drove through a very high-risk
community called Silverado Canyon.
This community of 2,000 people is
located along a narrow, one way in-andout, steep canyon that is choked with
heavy brush. A fire in this community
that takes the worst-case path will
certainly lead to the loss of hundreds
of homes and perhaps many lives.
We know that as a fire service we can
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
program, they obtained funding grants
and developed the “Silverado Fire
Safe Council”, and joined many other
communities in the National Fire Safe
Program, a program that helps citizens
face Wildland Urban Interface risks
throughout the US. The fire safe council
sponsors brush clearance, communitywide fire defence projects, education
efforts, a volunteer firefighting unit, and
takes on many issues that are beyond
the reach of single homeowners acting
alone or with fire services. With their
partnership, we and the Silverado
Canyon residents are tackling our
common problems. This is producing
strong results for this community and
many like it throughout America.
Andrew: Well it’s been good comparing
notes Mike; I’m quite confident in
saying there are so many common
challenges across different fire
services, nationally and internationally.
Comparing notes, like we just did in this
simple exchange of challenges certainly
is a step in the right direction for finding
solutions. Perhaps we should continue
this dialogue another time. As many of
your colleagues regularly tell me: ‘stay
safe and keep one foot in the black’.
Mike: It is great to exchange notes with
our Australian brothers and sisters,
we share both a common problem and
a strong professionalism in our fire
services. Thanks and good luck from all
your mates in the States! n
See Chief Rohde’s paper
‘Command Decisions
During Catastrophic
Interface Wildfires’
on DES Portal by entering ‘Izone
research’ into the search engine.
EMERGENCY September 2007
33
10 things you didn’t know about…
Rank restructure for SES
the SES flag
1 The Queensland SES flag was .
2 The flag features the SES crest .
3.
4.
5 The flag is designated for use .
6.
A
new rank insignia is being
The Queensland SES flag was
introduced for State Emergency
officially launched during the
Service (SES) units across Queensland.
2001 SES Week.
New epaulettes will be issued to all SES
The flag features the SES crest
members over the next few months.
on a blue background with
EMQ Executive Director Frank Pagano
orange checks on the left
said it follows extensive discussion
hand edge.
among SES volunteers on changing the
The flag is used by all
existing rank insignia to represent a
156 Queensland SES Units.
more contemporary look.
It was designed to create
“This change follows extensive
a unique symbol for the SES.
consultation with EMQ staff, the SES
The flag is designated for use
Volunteer Executive Committee (VEC)
by SES Units and can’t be used
and SES members.
by any other organisation or
“We looked at current SES, Fire and
community group.
Rescue Services and Ambulance
For official functions it can
Services rank insignia both in
be used as a supporting flag
Queensland and in other States and
and flown alongside the state
Territories to see what system they use.
government flag.
7 . As with all government flags
there are many rules for its
use: it can’t be used as a
curtain to unveil a monument
or plaque, it can’t be used as
a table cover or seat cover and
it is not allowed to fall to or lie
on the ground.
“The proposed new SES rank insignia
aligns with those currently provided
to QFRS and QAS officers and ensures
a common approach across the
department,” Frank said.
SES Director Eddie Bennet said the
new epaulettes are an important
addition.
“This means people will be able to
see the rank of SES members and
know what that rank means.
“It will also provide consistency
across the department and the
State with members in all areas
having the same rank structure.
“Another benefit of the new system
is that it provides recognition of
the experience and training of our
SES members and the potential to
progress through the various ranks.
“The new epaulettes are now part
of the SES uniform and will be
distributed in the coming weeks.
“In the future training and skills
will also form a key part of the new
structure and key competencies for
each rank will be phased in over
time,” Eddie said.
8 . It is not an official State
Government flag and cannot
be used on its own in an
official capacity.
9 . The flag may also not be flown
at night unless it is properly lit.
Flags are flown at half-mast
position as a sign of mourning
only with the express
permission of the Director SES.
Laidley SES members at the SES flag launch in 2001.
34
EMERGENCY September 2007
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Variety Bash: A great time for a great cause
Ambulance has a
variety of roles
By Kylie McIntosh
Photo by Kylie McIntosh
QAS Commissioner, Jim Higgins hands the keys of
the F250 ambulance to paramedic Wayne Tester as
Variety QLD Director Motoring Events, Rob
Goodwin, thanks him for the generous donation.
By Kylie McIntosh
Variety QLD Bash entrants are a colourful bunch which was apparent when they gathered
at this year’s starting point, Twin Waters Resort, for the 10-day bash ending in Airlie Beach.
S
even thousand dollars is a lot
of money to shell out for a party.
But it’s worth it according to the 450
participants in this year’s Variety QLD
Bash. Particularly when the funds go
towards helping sick, disabled and
disadvantaged children under 18
years of age.
and pay for Braille systems for children
who require them,” Rob said.
This year’s Variety QLD Bash started on
August 16 at Twin Waters, Sunshine Coast
and finished on August 25 at Airlie Beach.
It comprised 425 participants travelling in
157 vehicles. Each entrant was required to
pay a $200 entrance fee and $850/head
for meals. In addition, they were each
required to raise $7,000 for charity and
cover their accommodation costs.
“We visit towns that only have 17 kids
in their school and then 450 people
converge on them. It takes a lot of
planning. We have to take our own toilets
to some places. And water too.
In 2006 Bash participants raised $1.4
million and this year they are aiming to
beat that amount according to Variety QLD
Director Motoring Events, Rob Goodwin.
“Last year we raised $1.4 million.
This year we’re aiming for $1.6 million and
we are on track to reach our goal.
“The funds will be used to build things like
Liberty Swings for children in wheel chairs
The logistics of an event this size are
mind boggling. Effectively, it’s like
taking a small town on the road for a
fortnight. And, according to Variety QLD
CEO, Linda Graham, it takes serious
preparation to hold an event this size.
I
t was a case of something old is new
again when QAS Commissioner,
Jim Higgins, donated a 1997 F250
ambulance to the Director of Variety
QLD Motoring Events, Rob Goodwin,
in July.
Variety QLD is a charity which raises
funds to support children in need. The
F250 will replace the previous Variety
Bash QLD ambulance which is over
30- years-old and ready for retirement.
The Variety QLD Bash is one of the
organisation’s key fund-raising events.
Commissioner Higgins said he was
“happy to be able to support a good
cause like Variety.”
“We have to find accommodation
and arrange meals for over 400 people.
We start planning a year ahead.
Rob said the donation was fantastic.
“Channel 7 comes along; we have
our own band, a plane, 16 police,
two paramedics, four doctors and four
firefighters,” Linda said.
Southport paramedic and bash veteran
Wayne Tester has been driving the old
ambulance in the bash for the past
10 years.
But it’s all worth it when the Bashees
see the look on a child’s face as they
put on a pair of leg braces for the first
time. Or watch a wheelchair-bound child
swing in the park on one of the Liberty
Swings Variety QLD has funded.
“Every year I take six weeks holidays:
two for the bash; two for the party and
two to recover,” Wayne said.
“Not only do we have a new ambulance,
we also have a fire truck,” Rob said.
To donate to this worthy cause visit:
www.varietyqld.org.au
Fundraising firefighters
I
magine taking your holidays and spending them driving
around Queensland raising funds ($9,000) for sick and
disabled children. That’s what four QFRS staff did last month.
David Lloyd, Trevor Jarvis, Geoff Rogers and Nigel Jones lined up
with Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts before hitting the
road to participate in this year’s Variety QLD Bash.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
EMERGENCY September 2007
35
Clinical challenge
By Advanced Care Paramedic Michael Holmes
History
Y
QAS develops
award-winning
Influenza Pandemic
Response Plan
Q
ueensland paramedics can be
safe in the knowledge they will be
protected during a pandemic or other
large scale public health emergency.
Over the past 12 months the
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)
Pandemic Planning Project Team
has developed several strategies
and initiatives to deal with such
emergencies.
Acting Director, Risk and Management
Services Unit, Darren Hall, says some
significant achievements have
been made.
ou are called to an 82-year-old
female at 8.30am in a suburb
of Brisbane. On arrival you find the
patient in her lounge room looking
very anxious and fidgety. Patient
states that she was preparing for an
Australia Day barbecue when she
was scratched by something
on her hand while she was under
her house.
Patient described the area under
her house as cool and dark with
a lot of clutter.
What is your management of this
patient?
Clinical Presentation
On examination you find the
following observations
0 Skin – Pale and clammy
“We have created a number of
stockpiles of patient care and infection
control consumables throughout
Queensland.
0 ECG – Sinus Tachycardia
To assist operational commanders and
decision-makers plan and deal with
incidents like an influenza pandemic a
detailed plan was developed. The QAS
Influenza Pandemic Response Plan can
be viewed on DESPortal:
http://desportal/content/Planning_and_
Management/Projects_and_Initiatives/
Operational/Index%20QAS%20Pandemi
c%20Planning%20Page.jsp
Darren said he was extremely pleased
with the recognition of the project
team’s work following the recent win in
‘Leadership Excellence’ at the Minister’s
Awards for Excellence for the Influenza
Pandemic Response Plan last month.
36
EMERGENCY September 2007
0 A.A.A.
She says she did not see what
scratched her but says she had
immediate pain and some minor
bleeding to the webbing between
her forefinger and thumb on her
right hand.
0 Pulse – 110 weak and thready
“We also have in place command and
control arrangements with allied health
agencies and we have developed more
detailed planning at local levels,”
Darren said.
What is your provisional
diagnosis?
Abdominal aortic aneurysm may
not cause any symptoms at first.
When symptoms do occur, they
include a pulsing sensation in
the abdomen, and pain ranging
from mild to severe. Pain may be
located in the abdominal, back,
or groin area. Sudden, excruciating
pain in the lower abdomen and
back pain usually indicates
a ruptured aorta, which needs
to be treated immediately.
“To date we have initiated a program to
roll out advanced respiratory protection
and personal protective equipment for
2,800 operational QAS staff.
“And we have developed notification
protocols for these types of diseases
along with protocols for staff screening.
Last month’s answers
0 Blood Pressure – 180/90
0 Spo2 – 96%
0 BSL – 6.5mmol
Patient states that she is usually
in good health and takes half
an aspirin a day and Lipitor
for her cholesterol. The patient is
complaining of 8 out of 10 burning
pain to her right hand. She is
very anxious and cannot be
calmed regardless of the amount
of reassurance given. The patient
denies any other significant
medical history including
cardiac, respiratory and anxiety
disorders. Within 10 minutes of
being on scene you notice that the
patient has become diaphoretic and
her anxiety has increased.
Questions
• What is your provisional
diagnosis?
Basic Cares including posture
(supine with legs elevated),
high flow oxygen, ICP should
be requested. Continue ECG
monitoring and regular vital
signs. Gained I.V access and
administered Maxalon to reduce
vomiting and to decrease intraabdominal pressure caused from
vomiting. Enroute, the patient’s
BP was maintained around 110/60.
Due to the patient’s complaint
of pain and him becoming restless,
administered 2.5mg Morphine
Sulphate with good effect. No fluid
bolus was given apart from Saline
flushes. The receiving hospital
was notified.
What further management would
the hospital initiate?
On arrival at hospital we were
directed immediately from triage
to the Resuscitation Area where the
medical team were waiting with
U/S, portable x-ray and the
surgeon ready to go. The
ultrasound was conducted before
the ambulance trolley was removed
and revealed an 8cmxcm leaking
aneurysm. With the surgeon ready,
the patient was taken straight to
surgery before paper work was
complete and made a full recovery.
• What is your management of this
patient?
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
station profile
Station 34: North Rockhampton
Opened on 21 September 1999, the North
Rockhampton Station and the Central
Region’s mechanical workshops are
surrounded by a quiet bush setting close
to picturesque Mt Archer.
The station services areas up to 165
kilometres east, 65 kilometres south
and as far west as required. A contracted
plane is used if long-distance (more than
three hours) travel is needed. The station
services 70,000 people in the area.
Along with the serenity, the station
boasts a family atmosphere with a
number of firefighters sharing similar
careers with other relatives.
Brothers Ian and Gavin Shuker are
both firies in the local area, following
the career path of their father, Alan.
Father and son duo Pat Maloney senior
and Pat Maloney junior continue
to work together at the station and
workshops.
The firefighters from A shift agree that
the bush setting provides a perfect
background to the station.
“Working with my father can be
frustrating and stressful,” said
Pat Malone junior.
“The sight we’re faced with out our
windows is a lot better than staring at
brick walls and concrete skylines,” said
Station Officer Bruce Thomasson.
But apart from the occasional family
feud, the firefighters are kept busy
attending around 550 incidents per
year, most of these are MVAs.
The landscape does however provide the
station with challenges from time to time.
“About six months ago, we had two
snakes in the station in two days,” said
firie Ian Shuker.
Aside from car crashes, the North
Rockhampton firefighters say one of
the most challenging issues for them
are fires in the Berserker Ranges and
through Mt Archer.
“We had one man on the hoe and one on
the broom. “They died of metal fatigue,”
said Bruce.
“Fires coming down from those areas
are fires that can burn for weeks,”
said Bruce.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
“About six months
ago, we had two
snakes in the station
in two days.”
Apology: Last month’s station profile
headline should have read Quilpie Fire
Station. We apologise for the error.
EMERGENCY September 2007
37
Caloundra
Following their recent win at the State Rescue Competition in Cairns in June, Caloundra SES is looking forward to competing at the national
competition in November in Western Australia.
O
ne hour north of Brisbane is
Caloundra City, the gateway to the
Sunshine Coast.
By 2026 Caloundra City will have an
estimated population of 155,500 and
Jim said this presents a challenge.
“In six or seven years we had more
cyclones than we have had in the entire
time since.”
The area is a mix of sandy beaches and
mountainous hinterland.
“In the past if a thunderstorm went
through a rural area it would’ve hit just
paddocks and trees.
In 1993 the area was battered by waves
up to 13 metres high after Cyclone Roger
passed the coast.
“Now with all the subdivision, if a
storm hits there’s a much greater
chance of damage.”
The unit has been involved in several
high profile operations including
Cyclone Larry and the Newcastle floods
earlier this year.
Caloundra has a long history of
indigenous habitation. The first
Europeans arrived in the 1820s.
Landsborough Shire was created in 1912
and was renamed Caloundra City in 1987.
Today Caloundra is one of the fastest
growing cities in Australia with an
estimated population of 88,500.
Serving that population is the Caloundra
SES Unit which has groups at Kawana,
Pelican Waters and Glasshouse.
Local controller Jim Case was there when
the unit formed in December 1975.
The area is also a major tourist
destination, with beaches, rainforests
and attractions including Australia Zoo.
The zoo provided the unit with its
most famous members — Steve and
Terri Irwin.
Steve and Terri joined in June 1993 and
remained members until 2005.
One of the more unusual events
the unit responded to happened just
off Caloundra.
In October 1981 the 16,000 tonne
container ship, Anro Asia, grounded off
Bribie Island and began leaking oil.
The SES was tasked to remove oil from
beaches along Bribie Island.
“We didn’t have a building, my vehicle
had a tow bar and we had a rescue
trailer.
“The Irwins both joined the Glasshouse
group on the same night and Steve
went on to be involved in several
rescues.”
“It started with nine council staff and
spread from there.”
Jim said tourists keep the Glasshouse
group busy.
The Anro Asia was refloated a
week later.
The unit now has a two storey
headquarters in Caloundra and more
than 90 members.
“A lot of people climb the mountains
and get in trouble, we probably
average one rescue every month on
the Glasshouse Mountains.”
Despite Jim’s description of the
unit as “members of the Queensland
Tarping Company”, apart from cyclones
and storms they are also involved
in responses to bushfires and
community events.
“The age range is 16-year-olds to people
in their 70s and we have all kinds of
professions from doctors to students.”
38
EMERGENCY September 2007
Multiple cyclones hit the area in the
late 1970s.
“It was slow and dirty work, it was all
done by shovel and carted back to the
mainland by the SES boats.”
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Two minutes with…
Ron Smith
Emergency Magazine
e-Survey
W
e need your input. Don’t
forget to fill out the 2007
Emergency Reader e-Survey for
your chance to win one of three
great prizes.
0. The first entry drawn will
win a 30Gb iPod valued at
approximately $380.
0. The second entry drawn will
win an Digital Photo Frame
valued at approximately $270.
Job Title
Seniors Fire Education Coordinator
Location
Ipswich and local country area
Years of service
Eight years as a retired firefighter
volunteer, 24 years
full-time firefighter
Best part of your job
Sharing knowledge on fire safety with
the community
Most interesting incident
All groups I speak with are interesting in
different ways and continually amuse me
with their tales of ‘close encounters’,
‘mistaking flat smoke alarm batteries for
chirping insects’ and accounts of other
situations that only ‘seniors’ could get
themselves into. Each presentation is
challenging but enjoyable.
Last book you read
The Bulletin magazine
Favourite movie
I have two - The Big Country (Greg Peck
& Jean Simmons) & Rooster Cogburn
(John Wayne & Katherine Hepburn)
0. The third entry drawn will win
a CANON digital camera valued
at approximately $190.
To enter the competition,
simply fill out our short survey at
http://desportal/survey/s?s=1952
Volunteers visit
http://www.emergency.qld.gov.
au/esurvey.doc
Due to demand the deadline
has been extended until October
1. Winners will be announced in
the November 2007 edition
of Emergency.
In brief
Paramedics play hand in miracle
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics played a hand in a miracle
on the Gold Coast recently when one of their patients walked out of hospital
after almost losing both legs in a truck accident.
With the help of Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) officers and the
Careflight crew Colin Robertson was transported to hospital in just 90 minutes
after he was pinned between his vehicle and a pole.
QAS Paramedic Darrin Hatchman said seeing Mr Robertson leave hospital was
special for all those involved.
Favourite music
Slim Dusty
Three-year-old saves day
Your dream weekend
A flight over Antarctica
Mackay three-year-old Billy Richardson is the talk of the town after he helped
call for an ambulance when his baby-sitter collapsed and wasn’t able to move.
2008 Australia Day
Achievement Awards
The Australia Day Achievement Awards are a
proud part of the department’s tradition of
recognising excellence and distinguished service.
Nominations for the 2008 awards will open in
September 2007. Further information and
nomination forms are available on DES Portal.
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
His father Anthony said he was extremely proud of his son for showing courage
far beyond his years.
Buddies
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) has put the call out to all operational
staff to join the Qualified Paramedic buddies program.
Buddies are assigned to qualified paramedics recruited from interstate and
overseas to help with the transition to living in Queensland.
For more information about the program phone 07 3109 7740.
EMERGENCY September 2007
39
40
EMERGENCY September 2007
www.emergency.qld.gov.au