A Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade Centre was founded in Goondiwindi in March 1921. The first Superintendent was Mr C.H.N. Brewster who operated the service from rented premises with a Ford ambulance vehicle. The Provisional QATB committee was led by Mr E.G. Marsh as Chairman. During the period 1921-1922 the committee purchased a plot of ground in a convenient part of town as a site to build ambulance premises when funds permitted.
At the same time, permission was obtained from the Railway Department to run a rail ambulance car to operate between Dirranbandi and Inglewood. Although an order was placed in 1922, the completed rail unit was not delivered until mid-1923. This rail car was built by Ruddle Engineering of Brisbane and the total cost was £252,10s. In its first year of operation it traveled 2,740 miles. In 1922 Honorary Centres were opened at Talwood (Honorary Bearer J.R. McSweeney) and Kurrumbul (Honorary Bearer P.D. Roney).
In 1924, under the terms of the Hospital Act, the Goondiwindi Hospital Board exercised its power to take over the control of the local ambulance service. The Hospital Board conducted the service until 1953. On 22 January 1953, representatives of the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce met with the Goondiwindi Hospital Board which had expressed its willingness to hand over the control of the Hospital Ambulance to the QATB. Subsequently a public meeting was convened on 4 February 1953 with the resulting resolution; “That this meeting unanimously agrees that the State Executive of the QATB be requested to proceed with the establishment of an ambulance centre in Goondiwindi to serve the interests of transport and first aid to residents.”
The centre was gazetted on 2 April 1953. Mr V.E. Medland Superintendent QATB Hughenden Centre was appointed Superintendent. Vic Medland resigned on 16 March 1960 and Superintendent H.J. (Jack) Trenaman of the Mount Larcom Centre was appointed to the position.
At the time of Superintendent Trenaman’s appointment, the committee considered that it would be uneconomical to carry out further alterations or major repairs on the brigade building and decided that in the near future it should replace the building with new premises which would be more suitable for brigade operations. During the period 1961-1962 the existing ambulance property was sold to the Shell Co of Australia for £5,000 and a site suitable for ambulance premises in Marshall Street was purchased for £500. Plans were prepared for the construction of a new centre building and Superintendent’s residence.
Since the retirement of Superintendent Trenaman in 1971 the following officers have served in that position at the Goondiwindi Centre:
1972 – 1973 J.M. Stevens
1973 – 1985 L. Toms
1985 – 1990 W. Collins
1990 – 1991 Kent Larsen
As a border town, Goondiwindi remains a busy area to service today.
