Media Release

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has presented the ‘heroes’ of Ravenshoe – the Rural Fire Brigade, Police and Ambulance officers who attended the café explosion that claimed two lives – with a special presentation to recognise their bravery six months after the tragic event.

“Often all that stands between us and disaster are these emergency services people,” Mr Katter said.

“We would like to say a sincere thank you for all they do, not just with the Ravenshoe café explosion but every day.”

Mr Katter also singled out for special mention Darrell Thompson, who was the only paramedic on duty in Ravenshoe on the day and attended the injured until further emergency assistance arrived.

“Darrell’s services have been recognised by the people of Australia and it’s a very great Honour to present him with this further recognition of his work.

“It’s very much to Darrell’s credit that he gets embarrassed when people start saying what he did on that day – to him and the others they were just doing their jobs.”

Mr Katter also recognised the work of the Ravenshoe Rural Fire Brigade at other times throughout the year, telling his own anecdotes of near misses with bush fires.

“Not only did you do us proud on this day but also in fighting local bushfires at other times in the year.

“It was some years ago now and we were doing an advertisement with one of the fire stations for the news, when suddenly there were 8 of us running for our lives.

“The flames had jumped the creek behind us – we didn’t think it could but it did – you just never know with fires.

“When we don’t have you blokes out there, we risk lives as well as our beautiful landscape.

“So this is just a small way of saying thank you,” Mr Katter said.

The attached photo is of Bob Katter with Tablelands Regional Council Mayor Rosa Lee Long, Paramedic Darrell Thompson, Tablelands Councillor Shaaron Linwood and other Ravenshoe emergency services personnel.