I'm fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service

The Red Bellied Blue Tip

Out where the heat bakes the red desert sand,
And the fences run far across a sun baked land,
When trouble comes callin’, too far from the town,
The red belly blue tip comes thundering down.

Flown by those with their wings on their chest,

Soaring to help those, whose luck is hard pressed,

Landing on bush strips, ofttimes rough and ready,

Pilots are lifesavers keeping her steady

With a doctor on board and a nurse by his side,
She flies like a ghost where the road trains won’t ride.
She’s more than a plane with a hull and a wing,
She’s hope in the air with a heart that can sing.

So here’s to the heroes who answer the call,
Flying where dust storms and emus still brawl.
From oceans to outback, with every long trip,
They’re saving our lives in the red bellied blue tip. 

From the Gulf down to Ceduna, the Kimberley line,
There’s no telling when she’ll be next on the climb.
She’s landed on claypans, and airstrips so rough,
But she always comes through when the going gets tough.

But it ain’t just the crew in the sky taking part,
There’s a whole bunch of Aussies with fire in their heart.
They’re walking, they’re riding, they’re running each day,
In the Oceans to Outback, to help pave the way.

So here’s to the fighters, the givers, the crew,
The bush folks and runners and city folk too.
Each step is a lifeline, each pedal a gift, 

To keep her in flight, that red bellied blue tip. 

So raise up a cold one to those in the fight,
Who ride through the bush in the dead of the night.
For out where the blacktop gives way to a strip,

Lives ride on the wings of a red bellied blue tip. 

Australia is a big country, and for those living in remote, rural and regional areas, access to immediate care isn’t a guarantee. For some communities, the nearest hospital is eight hours drive away.

This October, I’m taking on a month-long fitness challenge to help more people access the care they need. By going further, I hope to raise as much as possible for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

Every year, the RFDS reach more than 330,000 Australians with 24-hour emergency retrieval and primary healthcare services. That’s one person every two minutes!

Together, we can keep the Flying Doctor flying and continue their life-saving work. Please donate to my challenge today!