History of theHistory of theVoluntary First Aid MovementVoluntary First Aid Movement

Who are??Who are?? the the

Railway First Aid VolunteersRailway First Aid Volunteers

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement

• History

• Timelines

• Thallon group of awards

• Districts & Committees

• Competitions

• Classes and Instructors

• Achievements and Community Service

• What the future holds

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement The Story Begins…The Story Begins…

The Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps (QRAC), known now as Railway First Aid Volunteers (RFAV), was instigated by the organisation's employees who recognised the need to be able to provide skilled first aid assistance to their colleagues when necessary

Historical records support the fact that the Corps, in conjunction with the Order of St John, the Army Ambulance Corps, and the City Ambulance Transport Brigade (now the Queensland Ambulance Service), was among the first organisations dedicated to the advancement of first aid in Queensland

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement Original Rules of the Original Rules of the

Queensland Railway Ambulance CorpsQueensland Railway Ambulance Corps

The “objects” of the Corps shall be:

To assist the Department by disseminating a knowledge of “First Aid Work” among the staff

To arrange Practices and Competitions so that the instruction received at “First Aid” classes shall not be forgotten and

As many as possible who have received instruction may keep themselves in training and be ready to render “First Aid” when necessary

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement Brief History of the Formation of the Army Ambulance CorpsBrief History of the Formation of the Army Ambulance Corps

• 1885 Dr Surgeon Major John Thomson, Surgeon Superintendent Brisbane General Hospital and

Chief Medical Officer of the Queensland Police Force and the Queensland Government Railways, founded the “Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps within the Queensland Defence Force”

This took place at a public meeting chaired by Dr Thomson when nineteen volunteers joined. The date was 30 April 1885

This newly formed Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps would become a part of the Queensland

Defence Force (1860 – 1911)

• 1885 cont’d In addition to a military role, the Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps would attend and provide first aid assistance at events such

as sporting fixtures or where large crowds where assembled.

• 1885 to 1889 During this period the only members of the Queensland community to receive first aid instruction and render first aid were the

men who enrolled in the Volunteer Army Ambulance Corps.

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement Brief History of the Formation of St John AmbulanceBrief History of the Formation of St John Ambulance

• 1880 - 1881 Dr Robert Robertson at Melbourne, conducts four lectures on Military First Aid

• 1883 First St John Ambulance Association formed in Australia. This was at Melbourne

• 1884 St John Ambulance Association formed in South Australia

• 1885 Dr John Thomson (1847 - 1909) founded the Army Ambulance Corps within the Defence Force based

in Brisbane. Thirty people present at initial meeting with nineteen joining.

• 1887 Lord and Lady Brassey addressed a meeting in Sydney. (15.07.1887) They then traveled to Brisbane and onto Rockhampton to address

further meetings.

• 1887 Approx. Dr Samuel Knaggs of Newcastle, sought approval from London to teach St John Ambulance First Aid to Newcastle and Hunter River Area Railway Workers

• 1889 Dr Surgeon Major John Thomson taught the first St John Ambulance Association Course in Brisbane.

This was a public class and was conducted in 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

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement Brief History of the City Ambulance Transport BrigadeBrief History of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade

• 1892 The stimulus was an accident at the Brisbane Exhibition grounds during the running of the Maiden Hunters Cup. The date was 11August 1892

• 1892 Seymour Warrian of the Military Ambulance held a meeting on 12 September 1892. This meeting was

at his home at Boggo (Annerley) Road, Dutton Park. This is generally regarded as the inaugural meeting which led to the formation of a new civic ambulance brigade

In addition to Seymour Warrian there were fourteen other people present at the meeting. One of whom

was Eustace Jack

• 1892 The new brigade’s first treatment / transport was carried out on 4 December 1892. This was carried

out by Warrian and Tomkins who attended a patient at Taringa and the following day they transported

the patient to New Farm. Fifteen shilling was paid for this service

• 1892 The first official meeting of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade (CATB) at Brisbane on 22 December 1892. At this meeting, the first election

of officers of the newly formed CATB was held

Dr John Thomson was not invited to either of the above two meetings

• 1902 Renamed the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB)

• 1993 Renamed, Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)

History of theHistory of the

Voluntary First Aid Movement Voluntary First Aid Movement

Brief History of the Brief History of the Queensland Railway Ambulance CorpsQueensland Railway Ambulance Corps

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement Brief History of the Brief History of the

Queensland Railway Ambulance CorpsQueensland Railway Ambulance Corps• 1892 Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps (QRAC)

established on 2 September 1892. A Provisional Committee was formed and the Election of Officers was held. First secretary of the committee was Mr WC Stone from the QGR Traffic Department.

(Mr Stone remained in this position till 1897) Reference Brisbane Courier 5 September 1892

Meeting was advised that Dr John Thomson, Principal Medical Officer of the Army Ambulance Corps, Visiting Surgeon to the Brisbane General Hospital, Medical Officer to the Queensland Government Railways and the Police, was willing to give a series of lectures free of charge

• 1892 On 12 October 1892, formal approval and financial assistance was given by the Railway

Commissioners provided the men conform to the Rules of the St John Society

• 1892 Meeting held on 28 October 1892 to receive the report of the provisional committee and to form the first

ambulance class

• 1892 QRAC first ambulance class held December 1892. Eighty-five applications were received from

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

• 1937 RCE (Dick) Smythe SBStJ appointed second Ambulance Officer of the QRAC

• 1960 AJS (Arthur) Meyers OBE, KStJ appointed third Ambulance Officer of the QRAC

• 1964 JM (Matt) Hopkins CStJ appointed fourth Ambulance Officer of the QRAC

• 1976 WA (Arthur) Carvolth BEM OStJ appointed fifth Ambulance Officer of the QRAC

• 1980 CH (Cliff) Vernon OStJ appointed sixth Ambulance Officer of the QRAC

• 1984 BC (Brian) Dunstan CStJ appointed seventh Ambulance Officer of the QRAC. BC (Brian)

Dunstan was the last of the Ambulance Officers to be appointed

• 1993 The title Queensland Railways Ambulance Corps changed to Queensland Rail First Aid Services (QRFAS). Ambulance Officer changed to Senior

First Aid Services Adviser

• 2000 BC (Brian) Dunstan retired from QR. The position of Senior First Aid Services Adviser, (formerly Ambulance Officer), was abolished

• 2000 Two First Aid Services Advisers: KG (Kieran) Broad and GD (Gary) Crook coordinated activates and managed the competitions. KD (Keiran) Broad

played the lead role

• 2003 KG (Keiran) Broad retires with GD (Gary) Crook taking on the lead role. DS (Darryl) Jamieson came into the team temporarily

• 2004 NW (Neville) Spark appointed to fill the second First Aid Services Adviser role

• 2008 Thallon Medal Centenary Conducted

• 2010 Separation of QR Limited 1 July 2010. GD (Gary) Crook First Aid Services Adviser QR National.

NW (Neville) Spark First Aid Servicer Adviser Queensland Rail

• 2011 State First Aid Services Committee adopts a new name ‘Railway First Aid Volunteers’ for the Voluntary First Aid Movement

• 2011 State First Aid Services Committee adopts a new name ‘Railway First Aid Volunteers State

Committee’

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement Chairmen - Queensland Railway Ambulance CorpsChairmen - Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps

In addition to the Ambulance Officers, the QRAC appointed Chairmen to oversee the activities of the Corps

To date there have been eleven Chairmen. The full list is:

1902 - 1911 JF ‘James’ Thallon appointed President of the Committee. During this period he

was appointed Commissioner for Railways

1914 JW Davidson, former Secretary, was appointed Chairman. He became Commissioner

for Railways in October 1918

1919 JT ‘John’ Cunningham SBStJ

1936 J Grant

1939 JS Strachan SBStJ

1957 BW ‘Joe’ Girard

1964 WR ‘Bob’ McGregor

1975 JE ‘Jim‘ Burke OStJ

1986 AJ ‘Allan‘ Matheson

1995 MM ‘Martina’ Sheehan

1996 PZ ‘Paul’ Niethe SBStJ

2005 JJ ‘John’ Bates

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement James Forsyth Thallon & the Thallon MedalJames Forsyth Thallon & the Thallon Medal

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement Thallon suite of awardsThallon suite of awards

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

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

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement Districts & CommitteesDistricts & Committees

• SOUTH WESTERN

Extending from the distant signal on the Toowoomba side of Helidon to Wallangarra, Dirranbandi, Cunnamulla and Quilpie and all branch lines

• SOUTH EASTERN

Extending from Helidon to Eudlo on the North Coast Line and all branch lines, Metropolitan Suburban Network, Beaudesert and Gold Coast Line

• NORTH COAST

Extending from Palmwoods to Yandaran including all branch lines. Monto is to be included in this district

• CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Extending from just North of Yandaran to Mackay and all branch lines; Gladstone to Mungungo, West to Winton Distant Signal on the Longreach side

• NORTH QUEENSLAND

Extending from North of Mackay to Cairns, West to Winton and Mount Isa, and all branch lines including the Normanton Rail System

Districts & CommitteesDistricts & Committees

Each district has a honorary committee that is responsible for the promotion of the Voluntary First Aid Movement at a local level. A state committee oversees Voluntary First Aid Movement and is responsible for strategy development and the general direction of the movement

The composition of the state committee is:

Chairman & Deputy Chairman

Delegate from each district

Two First Aid Services Advisers

Representative From Queensland Rail & QR National

Minute Taker

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitionsCompetitions

History of Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitionsCompetitions

History of Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitionsCompetitions

Since 1914, annual competitions at district and state levels have been held for Voluntary First Aid Movement members

Competitions:

Local

District

State

National

Qld Corporate First Aid Challenge

History of Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitionsCompetitions

History of QR Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of QR Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetitionsCompetitions

Competition - Events & AwardsCompetition - Events & Awards

Events:

Supplied Material

Improvised Material

Treat and Recovery

Oral

Individual

Awards:

Chief Executive Silver Challenge Shield

St John Ambulance Challenge Cup

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid MovementCompetition AwardsCompetition Awards

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid Movement CompetitionsCompetitions

Competition Benefits

First Aid Knowledge and Skills

Leadership Skills

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Analytical Skills

Diagnostic Skills

Assessing Skills

Networking

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid MovementClassesClasses

Classes & InstructorsClasses & Instructors

Classes:

Lunch time, evening and week end classes

Classes held through out Queensland

Employees, partners, family and friends

70 Classes

550 AFA participants plus over 100 CPR renewals

Instructors:

65 Volunteer Instructors

Assistants and Class Secretaries

Achievements & Community ServiceAchievements & Community ServiceAchievements:

120 years of history of supporting the community

Large network of volunteers

High standard of activity

Winner of four Qld Corporate First Aid Challenges

Strong relationships with kindred organisations

Community Service:

Volunteer First Aid Training

Commendations for First Aiders and First Responders

Volunteer First Aid Duties

SIDS Trek For Kids

History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementHistory of the Voluntary First Aid MovementSIDS Trek for KidsSIDS Trek for Kids

What The Future HoldsWhat The Future Holds

2012 = 120 years supporting the community

Continued Volunteer Classes

Continued Competitions

Support from partnering organisations

History & Heritage

2014 = 100 years of competitions

2017 = 125 years

Reference to Publications:

• The History of St John Ambulance in Queensland

• Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps Historical Records

• Brief History First Aid Movement 1892 – 1973

• QRAC 1892 – 1992 Celebrating 100 years

Contributions from:

• Queensland Rail

• QR National

• First Aid Services

• History & Heritage Committee – Past Chairman Brian Dunstan

• Queensland Rail Historian – Greg Hallam

History of the Voluntary First Aid History of the Voluntary First Aid MovementMovement

Questions?Questions?