I commence my service with the Queensland Ambulance as a Cadet in the Queensland Ambulance Association at the age of 14 1966 but my Service as an Honorary Officer/ QAA member started when I was 16 and received my Senior first Aid Certificate on the 5th June 1968 at the Townsville QATB. Before joining the QAA as a  Cadet I was a Cadet with the St John Ambulance in Townsville.

In April 1970 I was appointed as a C grade Bearer by the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade Brisbane starting at the dawn Service on 25th April 1970.

I then worked as a Driver Bearer in Townsville and Gatton. In August 1980 I was appointed as the Superintendent/ Secretary to the QATB Dirranbandi and three years later promoted to the QATB Mount Morgan at the end of another 3 years I was again promoted as the Superintendent/ Secretary QATB Proserpine/ Whitsunday, while working in these Centres I was awarded my National Medal for 15 years Service and Bars and first bar for 25 years of Service.

In 1991 the State Government made the Queensland Ambulance Service a Government Department, removed the Local Committees and changed the funding arrangements. Since arriving in Bundaberg I've been awarded and Australia Day Medal and My QAS Medal. I was presented with the Dorothy Cochran Ambulance Trust Award of Merit in 1997 for Services to the Bundaberg Ambulance.

At this time all Superintendents were given the chance to reapply for the new positions within the QAS, it was at this time that I was appointed as the Officer in Charge Queensland Ambulance Service Bundaberg. From 1991 till 2008 I have relieved in the positions of Sector Coordinator, Area Manager, Group Coordinator and Manager of Community Services.

In 2006 I suffered a major heart attack and had 5 bypasses, it was at this time I realised that work 16 hour days after 38 years was now starting to knock my body around, and I should slow down.

In the 2007 Queens Birthdays Honours I was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal and believe my hard work had been rewarded and am now looking at where I will go from here.

On the 5th June I will have 40 years with the Queensland Ambulance Service. Over my 40 years I have worked with some of the most dedicated Officers you could every want to meet. Over recent years I have become concerned with some of the new breed, these few officers are in the Service as a job and just want more money and to climb up the ladder. If we can not change this trend, in 5 to 10 years the Ambulance Officer will not be the most respected profession.

I wish to thank a number of mentors I have had over the years in the Service and who have helped me reach where I'm at today.

My father Tommy Denham who started by using me as a patient in the Ayr Railway Ambulance and then had me join St John and the QAA in my youth he was my biggest Mentor and a great Ambulance Officer.

Des Condon of Townsville helped me get my first job in Brisbane, Malcolm McDonald OAM as the Superintendent of Gatton he push the staff to advance their knowledge.

To Jim Higgins who when my Assistant Commissioner we worked as a team for the Region and James McLachlan who ensured all his team worked for the Patients and the Service.

I would also like to thank the members of the Area Management Team for making the Wide Bay Burnett one of the best Area's in the State, Rick Tenthy, Gary Pratt, Kristy McAlister, Luanne Wade, Michael Chapman, Robbie Alexander, David Hutchinson and the many relief Officers who worked with the Area Management Team under Rick. It was a sad day when this team came to an end, each member of this team had skills that made the team click.

PATRICK DENHAM ASM