FIFTEEN years ago, a small band of Redland Bay volunteers stood in front of a newly built structure on Gordon Road.
After three years of fundraising and campaigning, the suburb finally had its own ambulance station.
For the founding members, the official opening of the station on July 17, 1999 feels like only yesterday.
The committee celebrated the 15th anniversary at a fundraiser attended by 70 people at Redland Bay Golf Club.
Founded as the South Redlands and East Logan Benefit Committee in 1996, the group spent three years holding raffles, barbecues, bush dances, fishing trips and other fundraisers to collect money for the ambulance station's construction.
Their efforts did not stop there, however, with the group raising money since then to provide defibrillators, mannequins, textbooks, lounges and televisions for the paramedics stationed at Redland Bay.
Support has also been provided to first responders based on Coochiemudlo Island.
Committee vice-president Evelyn Richardson said supporting local paramedics was extremely important.
"Four times I've had to call and the guys have been there in 10 minutes," she said.
"You always say it'll never happen, but it does."
Secretary Jan Somerville said response times had improved with the construction of the Redland Bay station.
She said ambulances used to come from as far away as Springwood or Beenleigh to assist residents.
"There was a 15 to 20 minute wait to get an ambulance to you," she said.
"[The committee] got me inspired for the simple reason that Redland Bay was starting to go ahead."
Redland Bay Ambulance Station officer-in-charge Craig Pickworth said the committee provided invaluable support to paramedics.
"It gives the QAS availability to be able to spend extra money on trying to equip other people like first responders on Russell, Macleay, even the responders down at Rathdowney."
