OPENING ADDRESS BY PETER WOOD

"Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen my name is Peter Wood, and I am the Area Manager for the Central Area in Brisbane, and the Beautiful Samford Valley comes under my area of responsibility. 

It’s my pleasure today to be your Master of Ceremonies for the official launch of the “Samford First Responder Group”.

 My first task is to perform the official welcome.    

 I would like to welcome:

• The Honourable Mike Reynolds AM MP, Minister for Emergency Services and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland

• Mr Peter Dutton, Federal Member for Dickson

• The Honourable Geoff Wilson MP, Member for Ferny Grove

• Mr. Gerard Lawler, Assistant Commissioner, Brisbane Region, Queensland Ambulance Service

• Councillor Bob Millar, Division 1 Pine Rivers Shire Council

• Mr Martin Orme, Team Leader, Samford First Responders

• Mrs Judith Piper, President of the Grovely Local Ambulance Committee

• Mr. Rowan Mcauley, Representative of the Samford Rotary Club

• Mr. John Lilley, Representative of the Samford Progress Association

• Members of the Samford First Responder Program

• Members of the Samford Rural Fire Service and surrounding areas

• Fellow emergency service workers, and

• Samford Community Members 

 I welcome you to today’s official launch of the Samford First Responder Program.

 I also have three Apologies to make:

• The first is Mr Michael Kinnane, Director General, Department of Emergency Services – Who is attending another commitment within the State.

• The second is from our Commissioner QAS, Mr Jim Higgins . Jim is Interstate.

• And Also Mr Leo McNamara, Acting Deputy Commissioner, Queensland Ambulance Service  - Who also could not be with us today.

 Ladies and Gentlemen whilst travelling here today I had exactly the same feelings that I had when I attended my Daughter’s graduation from University. The excitement and pride was the same.

It’s a rewarding feeling to support, nurture and to finally reap the rewards by seeing someone very special graduate, and today’s Ceremony is not unlike that graduation. 

For our First Responder Group all the planning, the hard work, study and assessments has ended, and it’s time for the them to receive their certificates, and officially become part of the emergency service team.

It was in September last year when I held a community meeting to seek expressions of interest from the Samford Community to start a First Responder group.  

A number of interested people attended, and after a lot of blood sweat and tears here we are here today.

Let me now tell you about the group and their role.

The Samford First Responder Group is community owned and is assisted by the Queensland Ambulance Service. We provide the equipment and training, and the activation to the emergencies. However the group belongs to the Samford Community. 

The First Responders have an excellent skill portfolio and we have trained them in a number of skills, which can make a real difference to patient outcomes. 

As part of their training they have done countless observation shifts with our operational Paramedics on road.

Their roster provides three First Responders ‘on call’ 24 hours a day. When the pagers activate they drive in our own vehicles to the incident to provide assistance as required.

The First Responder provides early treatment and “situation reports” back to the responding paramedic crew. 

I have to tell you the program has been working exceptionally well and the group has responded to 47 cases since going live in February 2003.

Ladies and Gentlemen this is a wonderful example of community engagement and people being very proactive for the benefit of their own community.

I am very proud of this group’s achievements, and I know they will be of great benefit to the Samford Community.

In closing - We as Paramedics and First Responders know exactly what our patients want. They want a rapid response, flawless clinical management and they want to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect.

I believe by thinking out of the box and implementing this fantastic First Responder Program in Samford will assist our service greatly in achieving these goals for the Samford Community.

Thanks you for coming."