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QAS’ Man of Steel hangs up his cape When your colleagues farewell you with multiple celebrations, it’s a fair indication you’re leaving behind an indelible fingerprint. Insight was on hand as the QAS said goodbye to one of its most experienced officers after five decades of spearheading change in our organisation. It takes unwavering dedication to claim the mantle as the longest current full time serving officer in an ambulance service. Les Steel showed this from his early beginnings as a teen helping out around the Ayr Ambulance Station, biding his time until he was old enough to sign the register.
With farewells in both Townsville and Brisbane, his final week reflected his passion for mentorship as an outpouring of staff from across the service signalled their gratitude and lamented the loss of a great source of knowledge.
In the ‘90s Les returned to North Queensland and served as Sector Coordinator for a region stretching from the Cape to Bowen, before writing the standard operating procedures for the Townsville and Rockhampton Operations Centres.
“A fountain of knowledge”
In the 2000s
That was more than half a century ago and his accomplishments between then and now would take nearly as long to list.
Formally employed in 1973, Les is not simply a witness to the rapid transformation of QAS technology and clinical training in the years following, but a major contributor to its success.
In the ‘80s
Les continued to be instrumental in developing communications such as radio, CAD and telephony. His project work writing business continuity plans was rolled out across all QAS OpCens and his work culminated in an Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) in 2008.
As the state training officer, Les taught many of the early coronary care courses, co-wrote the first box jellyfish anti-venom program and established the first training program Glucagon administration by ambulance officers.
Les can pinpoint his interests as a youth – learning to build radios or sweeping for jellyfish at the surf club – as the roots that would see him branch through a diverse and impactful career within the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS).
Most recently, Les has been splitting his time between Brisbane and Townsville while working on the Government Wireless Network (GWN) and Public Safety Regional Radio Communications projects. In December 2021 Les commenced pre‑retirement leave to take him through to his 50-year milestone in January 2023.
Autumn 2022
