He retired in January, 1986 and left his job as Superintendent.

He worked tirelessly for the Ambulance, Bowls Club and Rotary.

He often went beyond his call of duty always assisting people in need and putting the community first.

Lionel sometimes had to do things which in some ways were challenging to him - like crossing flooded creeks in “tinnies’ to transport pregnant women to the hospital, even though he could not swim.

He delivered babies and transported accident victims and sick members of the community to Brisbane and Toowoomba at all hours of the day or night.

He worked tirelessly at fundraising to raise money to keep the ambulance staton going. The service used to have a van from which they sold tickets, which was parked down town on Saturdays, at the show, in the park at Christmas and anywhere else they could find.

He also had the ambulance committee catering for the horse races.

During this time in the ambulance he was responsible for purchasing the land to enable the ambulance to extend. Lionel was presented with a 20 year-long service badge by Doug Marquard.

Lionel did a lot of different things; he was also a good mechanic as he often worked on the ambulance cars himself.

He was also a Rotarian and in 1985 Rotary awarded him the Vocational Service Award.

Lionel was also on the Co-op Committee and was the instigator of the Co-op purchasing the land from Les Zacka (McIntyre Motors) where the Co-op now stands.

Lionel was also on the Bowling Club Cmmittee and worked tirelessly for them.

He was a man who always had a smile and a chat for everyone and was well respected and liked by all.

Doug Marquard once said the Goondiwindi Ambulance would not be the same without the smiling face of Lionel Toms.

He was very much a quiet achiever, who never complained and always had a helping hand and an ear for anyone who needed it.