A FORMER Queensland Rail employee has called time on a dedicated career that saw him help passengers get to their destinations and, on one occasion, actually save a life at work—one of three lives he has saved over time. For 20 years, Manly-based Brad Moore spent every working day on the platforms of Goodna and Fortitude Valley stations, answering customers’ questions, guiding them to their train, and helping those with accessibility restrictions board their carriages. “I loved the camaraderie with the frontline staff, all my workmates, and helping people,” he said. “I got a lot of satisfaction out of helping people.”
But on top of his daily selfless deeds, Mr. Moore frequently reflects on three key moments, dating back to 1980, in which he saved the lives of three individuals. In 1980, aged 18, the Manly resident saved a Japanese tourist from drowning in the waters near the North Burleigh Surf Club. Five years later, Mr. Moore was driving across the Story Bridge when he spotted a woman preparing to jump. He followed her up the bridge and grabbed her before she could. “I vividly remember it; I remember her screaming and I grabbed her around the waist,” he said. “I was pretty fit when I was young, so I had one arm over this steel beam and the other around her. We were nearly at the top; the fire brigade had to send up the cherry picker.”
Lastly, in 2010, at Fortitude Valley station, an 18-year-old university student was stabbed in a random knife attack, and Mr. Moore, working at the station, was first on the scene. “I held the pressure on the wound, stabilised him,” Mr. Moore said. “Everyone was freaking out, and I don’t know how I knew what to do; it was just instinct. Even the police and paramedics said if it wasn’t for my actions, he would have died.”
These three extreme examples of selflessness encapsulate Mr. Moore’s level of community service and care for his fellow humans, which has been highlighted countless times by recognition, bravery awards, and commendations from QR, the media, and even Queen Elizabeth II. “I like to help people; it’s just instinctive,” he said. “Not everyone saves three people’s lives … it really tests your resolve, but I think every obstacle in life is a stepping stone to making you a better person.”
Mr. Moore retired from his role with Queensland Rail in July and implores others to do their best when faced with someone needing help. “We’re all here to help each other, and it makes the world a better place,” he said. “So many people have called me a hero, but it’s just instinctive; it’s something that I felt good doing.”
