Ravenshoe paramedic honoured at Qld awards

When Ravenshoe paramedic Darrell Thompson was called to a cafe explosion in the tiny north Queensland town, he thought he would be dealing with some burnt toast and a singed eyebrow.

Instead, on that June day this year, he became the first on the scene during a horrific tragedy that would claim two lives, leave 18 people injured, and later be compared to the aftermath of the Bali bombings by senior burns specialists.

"The call was there was an explosion at the cafe," he said on Wednesday.

"I thought someone had burnt the toast and lost an eyebrow."

Almost three months since the explosion Mr Thompson has been presented with the prestigious Ambulance Commissioners Achievement Award at a ceremony in Brisbane.

The Serves Your Right Cafe has since been demolished but he says the close-knit town still bears scars.

"Individuals are having troubles," he said on Wednesday.

"I take people to hospital and they're telling me as well as their broken leg, they're still having trouble with it."

Ambulance Services Minister Cameron Dick praised his modesty.

"He didn't waver and went ahead and did his job, as all paramedics do, calmly and methodically," he said.

Mr Thompson was the joint winner of the Commissioner's award along with Gladstone Officer-in-Charge Leia Spencer, who has been instrumental in a cultural transformation at her own ambulance station.

More than 80 medals were handed out, including long-service awards for staff who have served 30, 40 and 50 years.

Caboolture advanced care paramedic Justin Tarr received a courage and integrity award after he swam through flood waters to help a 68-year-old woman who was clinging to a tree during a torrential downpour north of Brisbane in May.

The woman had driven into the rising torrent with her husband, who become one of the five people to perish in the disaster.

"Her husband pushed her out and saved her life and unfortunately sacrificed his life, so I think the award really should go to him," he said.