THE
HISTORY OF THE GLEN INNES V.R.A. RESCUE SQUAD
GLEN INNES RESCUE SQUAD CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SERVICE
THE
HISTORY OF THE GLEN INNES V.R.A. RESCUE SQUAD
GLEN INNES RESCUE SQUAD CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SERVICE
In the winter of 1974 a serious accident was witnessed by a Glen Innes Lions Club member who was astonished at the lack of equipment the Police and Tow Truck Operator had at the scene. Subsequently the Glen Innes Lions Club under the leadership of Tony Beniac and later Bruce Brummell adopted the formation of a Rescue Squad as their community service major project. On Friday 20th September 1974, a decision was made to form a Rescue group in Glen Innes with the Lions Club making a donation of $5000 towards the initial cost.At a meeting attended by Sergeant Ray Tyson, Max Walters and Les Clarke local citizens formed a Rescue Group after being advised that initial training would be conducted by members of the Sydney based Police Rescue Squad.
“All funds for the purchase of equipment will be raised from the local community and used for the benefit of the local community. The Rescue group will be purely locally controlled”. This statement is quoted from the Glen Innes Examiner of Tuesday November 12, 1974.
A later issue dated January 7th, 1975 printed an article “Glen Group Prepares to Start Training Operations” which states “members will be sought during the next couple of months”.
The 14 foundation members listed underwent their initial training on the 19th & 20th September 1975 under the control of Sgt. Ray Tyson & Constable Garry Raymond of the Police Rescue Squad.
The first vehicle was a 1972 Toyota Landcruiser purchased 2nd hand for $1300. It had a 3 speed gearbox and a miles-per-hour speedometer!! The first shed was a prefabricated steel garage erected behind the fire station. It soon became evident that a larger building was required and our main vehicle would soon need up-dating.
The calendar of events tells the story of our progress .
It is hard to imagine that some humour can come out of our work but it certainly can.
North of Yarraford an elderly couple ran off the road and into a creek. Severe frontal damage was sustained by the car and the driver was trapped by the feet but was otherwise OK. His wife wasn’t hurt and when she realised her husband was trapped by the feet shouted repeatedly: - “Take his foot off!! Take his foot off!!”. By pulling up his trouser leg the straps of an artificial foot were exposed. In fact there were TWO artificial feet! The driver was quickly released and carried to the ambulance.
On another occasion a couple went over the Ben Lomond Range. They remained belted in and appeared unhurt. The only way to get the stretcher cases up to the Ambulance was by a 4 x 4 vehicle. To make adequate space, tools had to be taken out. When a Squad member had a shovel in his hand the elderly lady looked up from the Stokes litter and said “You can put that away – you won’t need it yet”.
These are the incidents we like to remember – the other incidents, once they are over and done with, we like to forget about.
1974 Glen Innes Lions Club plan formation of a Rescue Organisation.
Rescue Group formed – M. Walters, R. Tyson, L. Clarke present.1975 Purchase of vehicle and basic equipment proceeds.
Foundation members and reserves elected by Police and others.
First training weekend conducted by Sgt. Ray Tyson and Constable Garry Raymond.
First callout – Fatal head-on M.V.A.(Motor Vehicle Accident)
“ Horse down well” incident. (Successful recovery!)1978 Ron Kiehne elected Captain.
Ford F350 purchased ( cab & chassis).
Lease of shed from Severn Shire, $1 p.a. rental.
Inverell and Guyra Squads receive initial training.
John and Kris Duncan transferred to Bowral.1980 Mike Digby elected Chairman.
1983 Tragic loss of John Brodie. (Electrocuted)
1984 Major work on building extensions.
Death of Lions Past President Bruce Brummell.1985 Tenth Birthday.
Ford F350 (Primary Rescue Response Unit) is commissioned at Glen Innes Show.
Opening of John Brodie Memorial Building.1986 VRA of NSW mid-year conference – Glen Innes.
1987 Resignation of Ron Kiehne on his moving to Queensland.
Brian Donnelly elected Captain.1988 Phone call-out system replaced by Radio Pagers.
Brian Donnelly resigns due to death of his wife.
Ron Biddle elected Captain.
Profile of Glen Innes Squad presented to General Grey.1989 Sudden death of Brian Donnelly.
1990 Glen Innes Squad accredited as the primary response unit for the area.
Mike Gray elected Captain.
Driver Reviver stops initiated.
Squad falls dangerous pine trees and donates $2500 towards
Mobile Breast Screening Unit.1991 Toyota Troop carrier purchased, helped by Steve Pollard’s legacy.
1992 First G.P.S. unit purchased.
Kombi camper impaled on Armco rail.
Regional Training weekend held at Yarraford.1994 Highway escort to “Blazing Saddles” Irish cyclists – Sydney to Brisbane.
1995 20th Birthday celebrations –
Ray Gill presents Life Membership to Ron Biddle, Noeline Lane and Mike Digby.
Purchase of Hurst Tool.1997 Purchase of vertical rescue equipment
Tragic loss of Graeme and Jeanette Wiley in MVA.
Our efforts are recognised by the NSW Legislative Assembly.1998 Holden Station Wagon purchased and fitted out as Rescue 3.
Original Toyota sold for $700 above its purchased price
Toyota Troop Carrier set up for bush search and Vertical Rescue.
Purchase of Crux Rescue Frame.1999 Peter Adams elected Captain.
Peter accredited winchman Helicopter Rescue.2000 25 years service to the community celebrated.
2001 Mike Brewer elected Captain. Garmin GPS units added to Boat and Toyota 4WD. Major local exercise involving all emergency services -( Bus Crash and Hazmat) - organised by Mike Brewer and Insp. George McGilvray (Glen Innes Police).
2004 Long-serving Chairman and Foundation Member, Mike Digby, passed away on Sunday 6th June 2004. Mike was an active Rescue Operator from the time of the squad's formation in 1975 up till the time of his death. He was elected Chairman in 1980 and served in that capacity until his death. Mike often said that his community service was his "rent for living in the community."
Michael Gray elected Chairman.
2009 " Rescue One" our faithful Ford F350 primary rescue vehicle was retired and replaced by our new Isuzu unit. The new vehicle was commissioned in June after being fitted out by squad members. The official commissioning was the occasion for a reunion of some past squad members.Ron Biddle, Russell Scott and Margaret Ridley were presented with VRA Long Service medals.
Russell Scott elected Chairman. Mike Gray elected as a Life Member of the squad.
2010 Russell Scott awarded "Emergency Services Volunteer of the Year" at the Glen Innes Severn Australia Day celebrations.
Jeffrey Donnelly (Training Officer) organises Regional Training Exercise.
35th Anniversary of the squad's formation.
Many call-outs have been responded to over the years but one in particular stands out. In the early 80’s a valuable in-foal mare had jumped onto a well cover which collapsed resulting in the mare disappearing down the well. Luckily she was wearing a rug – it being winter time.Squad members were able to sedate the mare and lift her out of the well with the aid of the winch on a tow truck. She suffered no harm at all.
On a Saturday afternoon in November 1985 the Minister for Police and Corrective Services, Mr Peter Anderson officially opened our building extensions and named them the Sergeant John Brodie Memorial.John came to Glen Innes in 1980 as Licensing Sergeant and in the following 5 years gained a reputation as a good citizen of the community and was an active member of our Squad being the first at every call-out and was prepared to help at any time. His level-headed thinking was a great help to the Squad.
John being a family man took a great interest in the youth of the town. He was actively involved in the Blue Light Disco and took it upon himself to ensure the welfare of every young person who attended the discos. Parents knew the children were safe when John Brodie was there.
John was tragically killed in an electrical accident in the home he was building for his family.
Our Squad Chaplain dedicated our building to John’s memory with the following words:
“Accept we ask you, this memorial to your servant John Brodie, who by
your grace rendered unto you in this town true service.
Grant that his example may encourage those who come after to so live
as to please you for the benefit of others.
We humbly ask that you bless this building which we here dedicate and
the equipment therein that it may be used wisely and faithfully to help those
in need.
And we humbly ask you to bless the men and women serving in the Rescue
Squad. Give them courage and resolution in times of crisis and danger. And
give them skill, perseverance and good humour in all that they have to do that
those whom they serve may experience trust love and compassion at their
hands and to your Glory”.
The late Brian Donnelly, generally known to his family as “Wallaby”, was a foundation member of the Squad and his knowledge, skills and initiative created many pieces of equipment. He was a great help in the construction of the extensions to our building. Following Ron Kiehne’s move to Queensland to participate in the harvest, Brian was elected Captain of the Squad. His leadership was outstanding and his contribution massive. He was the holder of an Explosives Licence.Many informative articles appeared in the “Search and Rescue” magazine published by the NSW VRA such aas:-
“ The Safe Handling of Explosives”
“ Maintenance and Operation of Chainsaws”
“ Applications of Block and Tackle” and others.Brian had a brilliant scholastic record and could have gone on to study medicine but chose to stay on the land. He was a highly skilled chainsaw operator and many of the older hands will remember him creating garden furniture out of solid logs at a mid-year conference in Glen Innes.
Following the tragic loss of his wife Diana in December 1986, Brian resigned as Captain to take care of his five boys the youngest being only 14 months old. We insisted he remain a Squad member as we could not afford to lose such a competent man.
It came as a great shock to the entire community when we heard of his sudden death at the age of 44. Brian had gone to hospital for a minor biopsy operation which apparently brought about his death.
Brian also made a valuable contributions to the Show Committee, Technical College and other town organisations. His death was a shocking loss not only to the Squad but to the whole community.
His green VRA helmet mounted in a glass show case reminds us daily of his massive contribution.
Vale Brian Donnelly.
Steve, as a fit young man joined the 2nd A.I.F. and was posted to New Guinea in the dark days of the Japanese advance.On Shaggy Ridge, Steve took a sniper's bullet in the hip and he spent an agonising week being carried out to air transport.
Steve spent some 28 weeks in and out of Greenslopes hospital having his hip joint and pelvis rebuilt.
Rehabilitation training saw him qualify as a craftsman saddler, an occupation which allowed him to sit most of the time.
He spent the rest of his life in his chosen profession in Glen Innes. He never required the services of the Rescue Squad but was keenly interested in its progress and welfare.
Steve lost his wife in 1983 and they had no family. Steve passed away in 1987 and his Will dated 1981 simply stated:
“I leave my entire estate to be equally divided between the Seeing Eye Dogs
for the Blind and the Glen Innes rescue Squad”.Recent information tells us that Steve and his wife mutually agreed to this Will, so we owe a massive vote of appreciation to this couple.
To Steve himself we recognise you as a good man, a good citizen and a good Australian.
Long may your memory survive.
Ron Kiehne was chosen as a foundation member of the Squad by the Community Committee for his recovery vehicle, his high physical ability and excellent character. This proved to be a very wise choice and he proved to be an anchor man for the Squad taking over as Captain from John Duncan.
Perhaps Ron’s greatest contribution to the Squad was the construction of the back to our Ford F350. This work reflects the highest standard of workmanship and finish – not to mention the excellent design which makes maximum use to all possible space. Ray Tyson considers this vehicle to be one of the best designed and equipped road rescue units in the state.
Ron resigned from the squad to run a grain harvesting business in Queensland in 1987 . I quote from his letter of resignation:-
“To all the new and prospective members I would like to say that the
Rescue Squad is one of the most beneficial and rewarding organisations
that anyone person could be involved in.
Some things I can only tell you about, that which you must experience
yourself, the greatest emotional satisfaction you feel when you are able
to release a trapped and injured person in great pain from a mangled wreck,
or an animal in a similar situation”.Ron’s younger brother Geoff had to wait two agonising years until his 18th birthday to join the Squad. He spent his every spare minute cleaning, painting and maintaining tools and equipment and never missed a training day or a call-out.
Geoff left us to join the Ambulance Service and is now the training officer in the western division of the State. This is a typical progression for Rescue Squad Members as we have over the years lost numerous members either to the Ambulance Service or the Police Service.
Thanks for your contribution, Ron and Geoff.