Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
One hundred years of service, sacrifice and community spirit were celebrated last week as Tully Ambulance Station reached its centenary. The milestone brought together past and present ambulance personnel to reflect on a proud history that began with local fundraising and horse-drawn transport and continues today with world-class emergency care.
For 100 years, the Tully Ambulance Service has answered the call.
Day and night, through floods and cyclones, celebrations and tragedies, generations of paramedics, drivers, volunteers and support staff have stood ready to help their community.
On Wednesday 1st July, past and present members came together to celebrate the remarkable centenary milestone.
The celebration brought together retired officers, former staff, local dignitaries, members of the Local Ambulance Committee and current paramedics, many travelling from across Queensland to honour a station that has become renowned not only for its history, but for the people who have called it home.
Before there was a dedicated ambulance station, the service began as a first aid post at the Tully Sugar Mill. As the district grew, so too did the need for emergency medical care. Rather than waiting for outside assistance, local residents took matters into their own hands.
"It was community driven. There was a need. The community rallied together, they fundraised, they purchased their own vehicles, supplies and equipment," said Far Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Brina Keating.
It began with horse-drawn transport, which later gave way to motor vehicles, as volunteers became highly-trained paramedics and medical equipment evolved beyond anything those early pioneers could have imagined.
Modern ambulances now carry advanced cardiac monitoring equipment, four-wheel drive capability and technology that links paramedics directly with Queensland Health while en route to hospital.
Despite those changes, Heritage and History Manager Mick Davis believes one thing has remained remarkably consistent in Tully.
"You can measure a hundred years in buildings and vehicles, but the real history is found in the people who answered the calls and the community that supported them," he said.
Unlike many ambulance stations across Queensland, where staff frequently transfer between locations, Mr Davis said Tully has become a place where people choose to stay.
"It means your community has accepted you. It means that you've contributed in a very significant way to this community."
Mr Davis also noted the remarkable commitment of the Tully Local Ambulance Committee, with many members dedicating decades of service to supporting the station and its staff.
"I think it's very important today in acknowledging 100 years, because in all of that, Tully has had a steady, reliable and capable level of service," he said.
"It's a tribute to all of those who've been here and served Tully from day one to today."
Current Officer in Charge Vanessa Schafranek was recognised throughout the celebration for continuing that legacy. Recently awarded the Ambulance Service Medal, Ms Schafranek was praised for her leadership and deep connection to both the station and the community.
"It's not just a job for Vanessa; this is part of her way of life. It is part of her family and connection to her community."
Among those returning for the celebration was former Officer in Charge Bob McIlroy, who transferred to Tully in 1992 after serving in Blackwater.
Standing alongside retired paramedic Ronald Allport, Mr McIlroy reflected on both the remarkable changes and familiar traditions that have shaped the station.
Mr Allport described seeing the station celebrate its centenary as "a dream come true", noting that while today's paramedics work with vastly different equipment, many of the routines remain surprisingly familiar, with equipment checks and daily preparation still taking place in much the same way they always have.
Cassowary Coast Mayor Teresa Millwood also acknowledged the milestone, thanking generations of ambulance personnel for their dedication.
"Thank you to those who are serving today, and we look forward with confidence to the next 100 years of outstanding service," she said.
"Congratulations on this extraordinary achievement and thank you for your unwavering dedication to our community."
As guests browsed historical photographs, memorabilia and stories collected across the past century, one theme echoed throughout the afternoon. While ambulances have become faster, equipment more sophisticated and medicine more advanced, the relationship between the people of Tully and their ambulance service remains much the same as it was 100 years ago.
It was built by the community, sustained by the community and will continue to serve the community for years to come.
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