Gene retires after 44 years with QAS

After 44 years of service, one of Queensland Ambulance Service’s long-standing paramedics, Gene Curtis ASM, traded in his lights and sirens for a new car and caravan to kick start his retirement.

Staff from Bowen, Proserpine, Whitsundays and Collinsville stations turned out to farewell Gene in January, celebrating with a special presentation of the Commissioner’s Service Certificate and plaque followed by lunch.

Gene started as an Honorary Driver Bearer with the Queensland Ambulance Transport Bureau in 1979 at Cloncurry Station in June and by late December, was made a permanent Officer with the Collinsville Station.

“This was quite a steep learning curve as jobs included remote cases as a single officer which would take up to eight hours and hundreds of kilometres of travel with minimal radio contact with my superintendent, often using skip transmission to relay information over the Flying Doctor's radio network via Charters Towers,” Gene said.

“When I started you went out on your own and I remember one night driving out on the highway to a job at 2.30am to an accident after talking its call, I saw I was shaking and I realised it was because I was anxious I was going the wrong way.

“Those days you were all on your own and it wasn’t pleasant.”

“And in those days, you only needed a current first aid certificate to be appointed to a position, with the requirement to complete a Home Nursing Certificate and obtain the First aid Medallion Certificate within one year of commencing permanent duties,” Gene said.

In January 1981 Gene transferred to Bowen Station and over the following years attended training offered in Brisbane.

“Training then developed into the Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Ambulance) and over time into the bachelor’s degree we have now, and serving officers were given the opportunity to gain in-service training to achieve the standard required,” he said.

In October 1992 Gene was promoted to Officer in Charge at the QAS Collinsville Station where he stayed until December 2003 before taking on his latest role of Senior Paramedic at the QAS Bowen Station.

“Over the years we have progressed from basic cares (forgive the term “Load and Go”) to a truly world class system delivering quality pre-hospital care by a dedicated team of paramedics aided by computer aided dispatch systems backed up by helicopter and fixed wing aerial support,” Gene said.

“We now are nationally registered paramedics ensuring quality standards are maintained and I’m so proud to have been part of it, and so appreciative at how good QAS is compared to the rest of the world.

“In France if you have a car accident, the firies come to you – ambulances are still only there for transport, whereas we have people treating you sometimes hours before you get to hospital.”

Gene said his move to Bowen meant the last 20 years had been the best of his career and his most rewarding job was a thrombolysis patient, a 52-year-old truck driver.

“By the time we got the helicopter and he got to hospital, his ECG was normal, and two days later he knocked on the station’s door to say g’day and thank us,” he said.

“He had actually looked like he was a pretty healthy man, but the doctors put his stemi down to stress.

“For several years afterwards, he’d drop in on his anniversary and would join Mitchell Higgs (my partner) and me for a coffee.”

Gene said he’s never regretted his choice of vocation and has always valued what he’s done.

Of the changes he’s observed over time, he said sometimes the little things can provide the biggest technological advances – like the mobile phone.

“If you went to one of your children’s school productions, you’d always have to sit at the back by the door with a radio on your shoulder in case you had to leave quickly,” Gene said.

“Everyone would hear the radio going and it could be quite intrusive to the performance.

“But with a mobile phone on me, I could sit inside and my phone would only notify me when I was needed - our quality of life was changed so much with such a simple thing.

“Less simply, we’ve seen huge changes within our care environment, with paramedics having access to 30-something drugs now, which means we can go to our patients, treat

“To be honest, the last month has been a bit hard,” Gene said. “I’m going to miss them all.”

Deputy Commissioner Stephen Zsombok said Gene was an absolute gentleman, passionate about his community, a generous mentor, and was the person responsible many years ago for encouraging him to join the service.

“He taught me so much about the service when I started out… and also a lot about fishing as he was a remarkable fisherman,” Steve said.

“Gene has always had a passion for his community, whether supporting people with disabilities, raising funds to better the ambulance service in the local town, and was often out teaching first aid and volunteering when he wasn’t working.

“He was (and still is) absolutely committed to serving his community.

“He’s been an unbelievable leader both as a community member, and as an Officer In Charge.

“It's an absolute privilege for me to be able to wish the very same person who started me off in the ambulance service all the very best for his retirement,” Steve said.

Right now, Gene is on holidays with his wife Lynda and their dog, in their new car and caravan exploring the country.

Gene said he will continue his Volunteer Marine Rescue work which he’s been doing for the last 20 years since settling in Bowen.

“I get to combine two things I love that way - it’s nice to go out in an expensive boat and not have to pay for fuel and it’s also great to still be able to help people,” he said.

Gene with his workmates

Gene with his ASM