Never has a ‘38 Dodge had such applause on its arrival.

When Mark and Sue Butler pulled into town with the 1938 Dodge Kyogle ambulance on the back of their tilt tray truck, everyone wanted to see it.

“It took us two hours to get a pizza,” Mark said.

While they were getting something to eat after their 24-hour return trip bringing the ambulance from Temora to Kyogle, people stopped to take photos and others were keen to share their stories about the longest serving ambulance in NSW.

The stories and memories are what it is all about. The Kyogle ambulance has been returned for three months to be part of the Kyogle Memorial Hospital centenary celebrations on November 15.

When there were discussions about the hospital’s 100th anniversary, Kyogle Museum member Brett McNamara thought getting the ambulance back would be a good idea.

I sent an email to NSW Health, Brett said.

“I got a phone call — ‘What’s this crazy idea to bring the ambulance back?””

Brett set up an online fundraiser for the transportation costs with the aim of raising $2000.

Mark and Sue who own Kyogle Tilt Tray had already said yes to picking the Dodge up at Temora and bringing it to Kyogle. They didn’t know at this point if their costs would be covered.

“It was always going to happen,” Sue said.

“We’ll get it up here,” Mark said.

Temora Museum curators were excited that the ambulance was coming back to Kyogle. They even asked Mark and Sue to pick up an ambulance from Armidale on the way and bring that to Temora. That ambulance isn’t in such good shape like the Dodge.

Securing the Dodge and driving the tilt tray back to Kyogle was quite a responsibility, Mark said.

He didn’t let the ambulance leave his sight, even when they’d stop for refreshments on the way.

Sue said they were worried about the weather as there is no window on the driver’s side of the ambulance.

“It was a big relief when it hit the concrete in Kyogle,” he said. 

The ambulance is being stored in a shed at Brown & Hurley.

The generosity in getting the ambulance to Kyogle has snowballed beyond expectations.

The fundraiser for transportation reached more than $8000.

The largest donor was Bronwyn Johnson (nee Morrison) who gave $5000. 

Bronwyn is from Kyogle and now lives in Brisbane.

“My father, Don Morrison, used to be president of the Kyogle Historical Society,” Bronwyn said.

Her grandfather had Morrison’s Garage, opposite Kyogle Post Office.

Her great aunt is Sister Paine — a well known nurse who worked at Kyogle Memorial Hospital.

When Bronwyn was a child, she stayed above the Kyogle Ambulance Station for a friend’s sleepover.

Growing up at Roseberry Creek, when Bronwyn was born, she didn’t make it to hospital. Instead, a neighbour delivered her, she said.

Bronwyn’s donation and a further $2000 from Brown & Hurley plus donations from residents has financed the journey.

At the Kyogle Museum yesterday, Saturday, November 1, Mark and Sue drove the tilt tray with the Dodge on the back along the main street and parked outside the museum in Bloore Street.

The museum members were thrilled to see it and clapped and cheered.

Robyn Carlill said her grandfather Geoff Morris used to drive the ambulance. 

There are ambulance uniforms at the museum and photos of Artie Dodd who also used to drive the ambulance. 

Then Artie’s son Todd Dodd took over and drove the ambulance. Phillip Dodd, Todd’s son, grew up in Kyogle and now lives on the Gold Coast. He’ll eb coming to the hospital centenary.

The stories about the ambulance and Kyogle Memorial Hospital will continue. Now known as Kyogle Multi-Purpose Service, the hospital admitted its first patient on May 2, 1925.

The community Open Day will be held on Saturday,  November 15 at 9am—1pm with official proceedings happening at 10am. 

The event will also include:

• step back in time with Kyogle Museum display
• healthcare information and checks
• sign up to be a Healthcare Helper volunteer at the hospital
• health career information
• interactive wildlife display and snake bite advice from our doctors
• kids activities including teddy bears’ clinic, pony rides and more
• Kyogle Hospital Auxiliary stand
• Lions Club sausage sizzle and coffee truck
• local community services including Kyogle Council, SES, sports clubs and more
• heaps of fun for the whole family

See all of the pictures in indyNR.com.
This article appeared on indyNR.com on 2 November 2025.