History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement

1. History of theVoluntary First Aid Movement

2. Who are?? the Railway First Aid Volunteers

3. History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement • History • Timelines • Thallon group of awards • Districts & Committees • Competitions • Classes and Instructors • Achievements and Community Service • What the future holds

4. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementThe Story Begins… The Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps (QRAC), known now as Railway First Aid Volunteers (RFAV), was instigated by the organisation's employees who recognised the need to be able to provide skilled first aid assistance to their colleagues when necessary Historical records support the fact that the Corps, in conjunction with the Order of St John, the Army Ambulance Corps, and the City Ambulance Transport Brigade (now the Queensland Ambulance Service), was among the first organisations dedicated to the advancement of first aid in Queensland

5. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementOriginal Rules of the Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps The “objects” of the Corps shall be: • To assist the Department by disseminating a knowledge of “First Aid Work” among the staff • To arrange Practices and Competitions so that the instruction received at “First Aid” classes shall not be forgotten and • As many as possible who have received instruction may keep themselves in training and be ready to render “First Aid” when necessary

6. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementBrief History of the Formation of the Army Ambulance Corps • 1885 Dr Surgeon Major John Thomson, Surgeon Superintendent Brisbane General Hospital and Chief Medical Officer of the Queensland Police Force and the Queensland Government Railways, founded the “Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps within the Queensland Defence Force” This took place at a public meeting chaired by Dr Thomson when nineteen volunteers joined. The date was 30 April 1885 This newly formed Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps would become a part of the Queensland Defence Force (1860 – 1911)

7. 1885 cont’d In addition to a military role, the Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps would attend and provide first aid assistance at events such as sporting fixtures or where large crowds where assembled. • 1885 to 1889 During this period the only members of the Queensland community to receive first aid instruction and render first aid were the men who enrolled in the Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps.

8. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementBrief History of the Formation of St John Ambulance • 1880 - 1881 Dr Robert Robertson at Melbourne, conducts four lectures on Military First Aid • 1883 First St John Ambulance Association formed in Australia. This was at Melbourne • 1884 St John Ambulance Association formed in South Australia • 1885 Dr John Thomson (1847 - 1909) founded the Army Ambulance Corps within the Defence Force based in Brisbane. Thirty people present at initial meeting with nineteen joining. • 1887 Lord and Lady Brassey addressed a meeting in Sydney. (15.07.1887) They then traveled to Brisbane and onto Rockhampton to address further meetings.

9. 1887 Approx. Dr Samuel Knaggs of Newcastle, sought approval from London to teach St John Ambulance First Aid to Newcastle and Hunter River Area Railway Workers • 1889 Dr Surgeon Major John Thomson taught the first St John Ambulance Association Course in Brisbane. This was a public class and was conducted in the School of Arts Building, Ann Street Brisbane. Dr Thomson conducted free of charge, thirteen courses between May and August 1889. All at the School of Arts building • 1890 Establishment of a St John Ambulance Centre in NSW. Work of Lord and Lady Brassey and Dr Knaggs • 1909 Establishment of a St John Ambulance Association Centre in Brisbane • 1916 Queensland St John Ambulance Brigade established

10. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementBrief History of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade • 1892 The stimulus was an accident at the Brisbane Exhibition grounds during the running of the Maiden Hunters Cup. The date was 11August 1892 • 1892 Seymour Warrian of the Military Ambulance held a meeting on 12 September 1892. This meeting was at his home at Boggo (Annerley) Road, Dutton Park. This is generally regarded as the inaugural meeting which led to the formation of a new civic ambulance brigade In addition to Seymour Warrian there were fourteen other people present at the meeting. One of whom was Eustace Jack

11. 1892 The new brigade’s first treatment / transport was carried out on 4 December 1892. This was carried out by Warrian and Tomkins who attended a patient at Taringa and the following day they transported the patient to New Farm. Fifteen shilling was paid for this service • 1892 The first official meeting of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade (CATB) at Brisbane on 22 December 1892. At this meeting, the first election of officers of the newly formed CATB was held Dr John Thomson was not invited to either of the above two meetings • 1902 Renamed the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB) • 1993 Renamed, Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)

12. History of the Voluntary First Aid Movement Brief History of the Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps

13. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementBrief History of the Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps • 1892 Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps (QRAC) established on 2 September 1892. A Provisional Committee was formed and the Election of Officers was held. First secretary of the committee was Mr WC Stone from the QGR Traffic Department. (Mr Stone remained in this position till 1897) Reference Brisbane Courier 5 September 1892 Meeting was advised that Dr John Thomson, Principal Medical Officer of the Army Ambulance Corps, Visiting Surgeon to the Brisbane General Hospital, Medical Officer to the Queensland Government Railways and the Police, was willing to give a series of lectures free of charge • 1892 On 12 October 1892, formal approval and financial assistance was given by the Railway Commissioners provided the men conform to the Rules of the St John Society

14. 1892 Meeting held on 28 October 1892 to receive the report of the provisional committee and to form the first ambulance class • 1892 QRAC first ambulance class held December 1892. Eighty-five applications were received from railway staff with thirty railway employees accepted to attend the course • 1897 JW Davidson took over as the secretary. He remained in this position till 1914 • 1914 A (Austin) Price SBStJ appointed first Ambulance Officer of the QRAC. This appointment of a full time Ambulance Officer came about due to the rapid growth of the Corps

15. 1937 RCE (Dick) SmytheSBStJ appointed second Ambulance Officer of the QRAC • 1960 AJS (Arthur) Meyers OBE, KStJ appointed third Ambulance Officer of the QRAC • 1964 JM (Matt) Hopkins CStJ appointed fourth Ambulance Officer of the QRAC • 1976 WA (Arthur) Carvolth BEM OStJ appointed fifth Ambulance Officer of the QRAC • 1980 CH (Cliff) Vernon OStJ appointed sixth Ambulance Officer of the QRAC

16. 1984 BC (Brian) Dunstan CStJ appointed seventh Ambulance Officer of the QRAC. BC (Brian) Dunstan was the last of the Ambulance Officers to be appointed • 1993 The title Queensland Railways Ambulance Corps changed to Queensland Rail First Aid Services (QRFAS). Ambulance Officer changed to Senior First Aid Services Adviser • 2000 BC (Brian) Dunstan retired from QR. The position of Senior First Aid Services Adviser, (formerly Ambulance Officer), was abolished

17. 2000 Two First Aid Services Advisers: KG (Kieran) Broad and GD (Gary) Crook coordinated activates and managed the competitions. KD (Keiran) Broad played the lead role • 2003 KG (Keiran) Broad retires with GD (Gary) Crook taking on the lead role. DS (Darryl) Jamieson came into the team temporarily • 2004 NW (Neville) Spark appointed to fill the second First Aid Services Adviser role • 2008 Thallon Medal Centenary Conducted

18. 2010 Separation of QR Limited 1 July 2010. GD (Gary) Crook First Aid Services Adviser QR National. NW (Neville) Spark First Aid Servicer Adviser Queensland Rail • 2011 State First Aid Services Committee adopts a new name ‘Railway First Aid Volunteers’ for the Voluntary First Aid Movement • 2011 State First Aid Services Committee adopts a new name ‘Railway First Aid Volunteers State Committee’

19. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementChairmen - Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps In addition to the Ambulance Officers, the QRAC appointed Chairmen to oversee the activities of the Corps To date there have been eleven Chairmen. The full list is: • 1902 - 1911 JF ‘James’ Thallon appointed President of the Committee. During this period he was appointed Commissioner for Railways • 1914 JW Davidson, former Secretary, was appointed Chairman. He became Commissioner for Railways in October 1918 • 1919 JT ‘John’ Cunningham SBStJ • 1936 J Grant • 1939 JS Strachan SBStJ

20. 1957 BW ‘Joe’ Girard • 1964 WR ‘Bob’ McGregor • 1975 JE ‘Jim‘ Burke OStJ • 1986 AJ ‘Allan‘ Matheson • 1995 MM ‘Martina’ Sheehan • 1996 PZ ‘Paul’ Niethe SBStJ • 2005 JJ ‘John’ Bates

21. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementJames Forsyth Thallon & the Thallon Medal

22. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementThallon suite of awards Upon completion of the annual first aid class examinations, participants whose marks are in the top grouping are invited to sit for a further special examination called the Thallon Medal Examination The Thallon Medal Examination started in 1908. Awards include: • Thallon Medal (greatest proficiency employee 4 years or over) • WR McGregor Medal • Minister for Transport Medal • Dr Thompson Novice Medal • Chief Executive Medal • Chairman’s Award

23. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementDistricts & Committees • SOUTH WESTERN Extending from the distant signal on the Toowoomba side of Helidon to Wallangarra, Dirranbandi, Cunnamulla and Quilpie and all branch lines • SOUTH EASTERN Extending from Helidon to Eudlo on the North Coast Line and all branch lines, Metropolitan Suburban Network, Beaudesert and Gold Coast Line • NORTH COAST Extending from Palmwoods to Yandaran including all branch lines. Monto is to be included in this district • CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Extending from just North of Yandaran to Mackay and all branch lines; Gladstone to Mungungo, West to Winton Distant Signal on the Longreach side • NORTH QUEENSLAND Extending from North of Mackay to Cairns, West to Winton and Mount Isa, and all branch lines including the Normanton Rail System

24. Districts & Committees • Each district has a honorary committee that is responsible for the promotion of the Voluntary First Aid Movement at a local level. A state committee oversees Voluntary First Aid Movement and is responsible for strategy development and the general direction of the movement • The composition of the state committee is: • Chairman & Deputy Chairman • Delegate from each district • Two First Aid Services Advisers • Representative From Queensland Rail & QR National • Minute Taker

25. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitions

26. History of Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitions

27. History of Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitions • Since 1914, annual competitions at district and state levels have been held for Voluntary First Aid Movement members • Competitions: • Local • District • State • National • Qld Corporate First Aid Challenge

28. History of Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitions

29. History of QR Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitions

30. Competition - Events & Awards • Events: • Supplied Material • Improvised Material • Treat and Recovery • Oral • Individual • Awards: • Chief Executive Silver Challenge Shield • St John Ambulance Challenge Cup

31. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetition Awards

32. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitions Competition Benefits • First Aid Knowledge and Skills • Leadership Skills • Communication Skills • Interpersonal Skills • Analytical Skills • Diagnostic Skills • Assessing Skills • Networking

33. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementClasses

34. Classes & Instructors • Classes: • Lunch time, evening and week end classes • Classes held through out Queensland • Employees, partners, family and friends • 70 Classes • 550 AFA participants plus over 100 CPR renewals • Instructors: • 65 Volunteer Instructors • Assistants and Class Secretaries

35. Achievements & Community Service • Achievements: • 120 years of history of supporting the community • Large network of volunteers • High standard of activity • Winner of four Qld Corporate First Aid Challenges • Strong relationships with kindred organisations • Community Service: • Volunteer First Aid Training • Commendations for First Aiders and First Responders • Volunteer First Aid Duties • SIDS Trek For Kids

36. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementSIDS Trek for Kids

37. What The Future Holds • 2012 = 120 years supporting the community • Continued Volunteer Classes • Continued Competitions • Support from partnering organisations • History & Heritage • 2014 = 100 years of competitions • 2017 = 125 years

38. Reference to Publications: • The History of St John Ambulance in Queensland • Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps Historical Records • Brief History First Aid Movement 1892 – 1973 • QRAC 1892 – 1992 Celebrating 100 years Contributions from: • Queensland Rail • QR National • First Aid Services • History & Heritage Committee – Past Chairman Brian Dunstan • Queensland Rail Historian – Greg Hallam

39. History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementQuestions?