NEW officer-in-charge at Injune Ambulance Station John Gilbert is not one to think about what could have been.

If not for communication difficulties earlier this month, when a truck carrying fertiliser exploded 30km south of Charleville, Mr Gilbert could have been right at the scene at the time of the massive blast.

As a paramedic for the past nine years, the Charleville disaster is one of the most catastrophic he has ever witnessed.

But he said the aspect of his job that he enjoyed the most was dealing with people.

"I'd always had an interest in dealing with people and wanting to help them," Mr Gilbert said.

"I feel good when I follow up with people and they are getting better and what I have done has helped."

Mr Gilbert transferred to the Injune station this month after four years at Charleville.

Prior to that he worked at Chermside as a paramedic for four-and-a-half years.

Before becoming a paramedic, Mr Gilbert worked as an officer in juvenile detention and as a theatre orderly at the Mater Hospital.