By Margaret Maccoll
In his 43 years as an ambulance officer, Lee Mangan has experienced some highs and lows and witnessed sights he hopes he’ll never see again.
On Saturday, the former officer-in-charge of Pomona Ambulance Service received a presentation to mark his retirement.
Delivering babies was one of the nicer aspects of his job as was saving someone’s life.
“It’s always nice when they come back a few months later and show you the baby or say thank you for saving my life,” he said.
There are some situations such as arriving at the scene of an accident he’d rather forget.
“When you live in a small community, you get to know the families and the kids. When you go and can’t save them, it hits hard,” he said.
The service has changed enormously over Lee’s time from the use of basic first aid to high tech medical care.
“Gone are the days we used to use bits of board and bandages for splints,” he said.
“Back then if you could, you’d do something at the scene then chuck them in the car and try and get them to the hospital in time. The townspeople were much more friendly. They were always willing to lend a hand. Someone would pipe up and drive for you.”
When Lee began, it was the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB), the ladies committees would fund-raise for more equipment and officers knocked on residents doors to sign them up for ambulance subscriptions.
“The public owned the ambulance service, paid the ambulance driver,” he said.
“When the government took over, we had better services and more funding, but we lost contact with the public.”
Over the years, he’s missed more than his fair share of birthdays, Christmases and events through call outs.
Lee has no regrets over his retirement, and is looking forward to some travel, restoring some old motorbikes and just being home and getting a good night’s sleep.
