Boolaroo Bulletin Centenary - Lake Macquarie District Ambulance

Once again the community can pay homage to TC Frith, for in 1917 whilst attending the Stockton Borehole Colliery seeking an order for chaff from the manager, he witnessed the transportation of a young lad who had been killed. Several weeks later he called a public meeting to see if the means of transport could be improved for the boy's body was placed in a blanket and placed in a horse drawn dray. Five people attended and formed an Ambulance Committee - the Boolaroo-Teralba Ambulance Brigade. The Sulphide Corporation donated the work's ambulance, a light, canvas-hooded, four wheeled horsedrawn waggon, with the condition that the ambulance had to attend to any of the employees of the Sulphide Works that became sick or were injured. George Hawkins offered his horses, when an ambulance was needed a call was sent to T.C. Frith's shop in Boolaroo, where someone whould go to the Sulphide Works or Hawkin's stables, hitch the horse to the Ambulance Waggon and then trot off for the patient.

In 1919 there was an urgent necessity for comfortable transport due to the influenza epidemic. Another public meeting was held - a branch of the Ambulance Transport Brigade was formed together with a Ladies Auxiliary who raised money by the sale of cakes, raffles and holding dances.

The committee decided to purchase a motor ambulance to replace the horsedrawn one. Mr Cyril Hitchens was appointed as a Permanent Bearer with the distinction of being the first ambulance bearer in the Hunter Region.

In 1921 the service had another name change to Lake Macquarie District Ambulance Service. The wages and expenses depleted the bank balance, so a scheme was implemented where all the workers at the Sulphide, coal mines timber mills, railway and business houses had ld taken out of their wages each week. This was the first industrial subscriber contribution to an ambulance service in the state and became the forerunner of the present system used throughout New South Wales.

The President, Mr T.C.Frith received a letter from the Sulphide Manager in 1921 stating that the Corporation was agreeable to granting a piece of land from its estate in Main Road, Boolaroo. The Ambulance Station was officially opened in 1922.

Reference: J.Macfarlane-Ambulance Officer

There is a lovely lady who provided photos for this booklet, Mrs Doris Walters. Together with her late husband Joe they built a home in Boolaroo where Doris still lives after 60 years as a resident. Joe and Doris built their home here, for Joe was in the Ambulance Service for 27 years and wanted to live close to the creek as he loved to fish, and close to the station. Joe Walters was also a Captain of the Boolaroo Fire Brigade for 20 years. Doris was in the Boolaroo Ambulance Ladies Auxilary in the 1950s.

These wonderful women raised a great deal of money from Wednesday night Housie. The Ladies Auxilary were of great service to the community for the money raised enabled over the years 16 cars to be purchased for the use of ambulances.

Boolaroo Bulletin Centenary Issue

Lake Macquarie District Ambulance