Community & Business
14 May, 2024
Brothers set a tradition for next generation of Smiths
Between them, the Smith brothers have served 110 years as ambulance officers in Queensland, and now the next generation of Smiths is set to follow in their footsteps.
The eldest Smith sibling, Warren, has just notched 40 years of service as a Queensland Ambulance Officer, and his brothers Danny and Steve are not far behind him, having spent 37 and 33 years in the same occupation, respectively.
Now 58, Warren’s career began in Pittsworth when he was only 18 years old.
After completing an advanced first aid course in Grade 12, Warren was asked by the Superintendent to become an Honorary Officer.
Warren worked part time at the Pittsworth Ambulance Station for a year before seeking full time employment, and accepting a position in Bundaberg.
Since then, he has travelled between Toowoomba and Bundaberg, working as a paramedic, aerial ambulance attendant, and now as the Senior Clinical Educator of the Wide Bay Ambulance District Clinical Education Unit in Bundaberg.
Second son Danny commenced his service as an Honorary Ambulance Officer in Pittsworth in 1987.
He accepted his first full time position as a paramedic at St. George, and since then, has worked all over the state including Rockhampton, Miles, Toowoomba and Clifton.
Danny currently works out of the Crows Nest station.
Youngest Smith brother, Steve, began his career in 1991 as an Honorary Officer at Pittsworth Station, following in the footsteps of his older brothers.
He accepted a position as a Student Ambulance Officer at Goondiwindi, and was part of a new program designed to address the problems associated with patients in remote areas being hours away from hospital care.
This program allowed officers, in consultation with a doctor, to undertake specialist procedures to reduce the pain and suffering of patients, while enroute to a hospital.
Steve has served all over the Darling Downs as a paramedic in Toowoomba, Crows Nest, Goondiwindi, and currently at Highfields.
Last year, Steve’s oldest daughter Erin, completed her university degree in Health Science.
She is currently stationed in Toowoomba, in the Patient Transport Service, awaiting to enter the graduate paramedic program.
Together, the three Smith brothers provided almost six years of honorary service to the Pittsworth community before accepting full time positions elsewhere.
While Warren plans to retire sometime in the next five years, Danny’s daughter Ivy, although only 13, has her sights set on becoming a paramedic, and following a long line of Smiths into the ambulance service.
