FORMER Bega paramedic Keith Beresford had his curiosity piqued by news of a new $2.8million ambulance station for Bega (click here for story).
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Mr Beresford contacted the BDN after the article appeared to share his memories of the Canning St station that has served the Bega community for decades.
“The original service was conducted from a house on the opposite side in Canning St (phone number 135).
“It’s no wonder the present station floods - the land was a former swamp filled with sawdust over the years from the nearby sawmill.
“The reason it was purchased was because it was cheap (and nasty).
“The bowling club was in the same boat.
“The money for the new station was raised from the sale of the house and proceeds from bingo raffles and so on.
“The Bega District Band played at the opening.
“The new station was considered a showpiece for Bega and in my time was inspected by the Governor General, State Governor, and the Minister for Health.”
Mr Beresford uncovered several old photos of the station in his albums and his recollections of the people pictured offer an intriguing insight into the historic building soon making way for a multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art facility.
Mr Beresford sent in the official photo taken at the opening of the ambulance station and included some brief notes on his former colleagues.
Standing, from left:
Honorary ambulance officer Harry Thorne - Harry was the accountant at the Commercial Bank. He was a familiar figure rendering first aid at sporting fixtures, mainly rugby league. He unfortunately died suddenly while still employed as an accountant.
Station officer Lou Sanders - Lou was the station officer at Bega. Lou served in a number of locations in NSW, the last before retiring was at Dunedoo. After retiring he moved to the North Coast - he originally came from Kempsey.
Ambulance officer Keith Knight - Keith was an ambulance officer at Bega. He died as a result of a car accident between Cooma and Bombala. At the time he was serving as the station officer at Bombala.
Ambulance officer Les Atkins - Les was a local figure and only served a short time as an ambulance officer in Bega. After leaving the Ambulance Service he moved to Wollongong.
Ambulance officer Keith Beresford - Keith started his career in the Ambulance Service at Cooma from 1954-56 and in Bega from 1956-62. After serving as a superintendent in numerous locations in NSW, including Sydney, he retired in January 1992.
Station officer Hugh McElhone - Hugh was the station officer at Ulladulla. He later became the first station officer in Batemans Bay, a branch of the Bega District Ambulance Service. He died of a sudden heart attack while at work.
Honorary ambulance officer Stan Carstens - Stan was a plumber and a popular figure in Milton and Ulladulla. He worked in an honorary capacity in Ulladulla, now deceased.
Seated, from left:
Superintendent Syd Croxon, Cooma District Ambulance Service - Syd died of a heart attack while still employed as a superintendent.
Superintendent Carol Gibbons, Bega District Ambulance Service - Circumstances were such that he had to resign in 1962.
Superintendent Arthur Napper, Berrima District Ambulance Service - Arthur was a most popular figure in the Berrima district. He retired to reside in Nowra and lived to a ripe old age.
