General News
10 June, 2026
Today is first responders day!
Clifton is lucky to have great Paramedics, Police and Auxiliary Firemen. This First Responders Day we spoke to some of those who rock up when we need them most.
With more than 14 million Triple Zero (000) calls made across Australia in 2025 alone, the past 12 months have placed unprecedented pressure on frontline personnel.
Many of us know our first responders, they’re in our community, we see them most days whether they’re in uniform or not.
But for first responders a day can go from 0-100 without warning.
One can only imagine what it must be like, day in day out, helping people on some of the worst days of their lives.
But its not something any of the first responders really mentioned when we spoke to them about their roles.
Senior Constable Tyson Morris, speaking about why he got into the force, described how he would look up to his uncle who was a Queensland Police Officer.
“That admiration we had for him, for doing the job he did, getting out there every day and helping people,” he said.
As for what gets Tyson out of bed every morning, it’s really quite simple.
“I think it’s the connections you’ve built in the community. I think you see the outcome of what you do and how you help people and even in their worst of times, maybe not following the rules as they should.
“There’s usually some good which comes out of that.”
For Sergeant Vanessa Rudloff, the role of a Police Officer is a diverse one.
“I think the role of a police officer is everything, we’re everything from someone’s friend, carer, you know, we go and talk to people that might not speak to people for weeks on end.
“Sometimes you gotta change a tyre on the side of the road, sometimes we have to go help with sick animals. So its a bit of everything our job,” Sergeant Rudloff said.
Acting Officer in Charge of the Clifton Ambulance station, Riley Holden loves what she does.
“Some days can be really challenging, but you can really make a difference in people’s lives.
“Like whether its a really good day or a really bad day, like how we interact with them can really matter,” she told the Clifton Courier.
Apparently they get pretty good at ebbing with the flows of the job.
“Obviously we have a vent, sometimes it gets you down on other days but its just, tomorrow’s a new day and that’s the blessing of a small community.
“If someone is grouchy with us one week, chances are they’re gonna need us again in the future,” she said.
They’re stoic, through and through.
Clifton is lucky to have first responders who care and look after this community.
Make sure to thank them if you can.
