MARYBOROUGH'S AMBULANCE SERVICE



 


The Maryborough Ambulance Transport Brigade was formed in 1897 and operated from the store of a local chemist named Field Evans Smith. This image is kindly provided for research purposes by the Maryborough Wide Bay & Burnett Historical Society.

Excerpt from the Maryborough Chronicle, 4 May 1897

GENERAL NEWS

A well attended meeting of those interested in ambulance work was held at the Medical Hall,

Adelaide Street

, last evening when it was resolved to form an association, to be known as “The Maryborough Ambulance Transport Brigade”, and a sub-committee was appointed to draft rules and submit them to a future meeting. It was also decided to extend the membership so that the leading industries could be represented on the brigade, as it appeared quite a number were anxious to join. That such an association is necessary is evident from the fact that on many occasions the men of the Q.D.F. Ambulance Corps have rendered the necessary assistance and it was thought by the promoters that this association would be able to deal with any emergency that may arise in the future.

Excerpt from the Maryborough Chronicle, 8 May 1897

GENERAL NEWS

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held last night. Present – Messrs. John Graham (chair), W. Hatton, and H. Corser. Correspondence included a letter from L. Mander Jones, Boonara, enclosing a subscription of £2 10s to the Hospital. From Mount Morgan Hospital, forwarding a copy of the latest balance sheet, and asking for a similar favour. From T. Davies of the newly formed Ambulance and Transport brigade, offering their services to the Hospital, and asking that the stretchers at the police station and railway station, the property of the Hospital, be put in repair for their use. The secretary was instructed to have the repairs necessary attended to.

Excerpt from ‘A History of Maryborough 1842-1976/ Maryborough, Wide Bay and Burnett Historical Society; 1976

AMBULANCE

By 1884 first aid was being voluntarily given by members of the Wide Bay Ambulance Corps of the Queensland defence Forces, and by volunteers organised by the industrial establishments. In May 1897 a public meeting was called to form a Maryborough Ambulance Brigade. In 1900 decisions were made to buy hand litters and a suitable horse-drawn wagon, and a hand litter supplied for ambulance purpose at Pialba. A similar litter was sent to Biggenden in 1902. The horse-drawn wagon was used until 1915 when the first motor ambulance, a six-cylinder Fiat, went into service, a gift made possible by the generosity of the employees of Walkers Limited.

Please add your comments and develop our knowledge of the history of Maryborough's ambulance service. Jo