Ambulance Station

Before the establishment of a formal ambulance service, Lightning Ridge residents relied on makeshift solutions in emergencies. In the 1960s, Arthur Blackwell’s station wagon was regularly used to transport the injured or ill. Despite community efforts, the government initially rejected the need for a dedicated service.

In early 1984, a public meeting was held to address the issue. Councillor Gan Bruce and others had long advocated for an ambulance station, and with renewed community momentum, a solution was finally in sight. As the permanent headquarters was still under construction, local historian Len Cram offered his home on Pandora Street as a temporary base. His son, Evan Cram, became the town’s first official ambulance officer. A trained nurse with eight years of experience in Newcastle, Evan assumed duty on 18 July 1984.

The permanent 24 hour Ambulance Station, located at the corner of Opal and Pandora Streets, opened later that year. It operated at full capacity for the next two decades, serving a growing population and expanding regional needs.

Article: Edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: Lightning Flash Newspaper, 21 July 1983, 12 April 1984; A Journey With Colour: A History of Lightning Ridge Opal 1873-2003, Len Cram, 2003, pp. 294-296.