My training progress
268 km
My target
583 km
My October progress
87 km
My target
583 km
Follow my journey from the Ocean to the Outback
Why I'm riding
The RFDS saved my life because somebody donated sometime in the past. I am raising money because you or someone you know may need lifesaving assistance from the wonderful team at the RFDS.
Donate now >>Why I'm fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service - Part 1
This is the story in full over several parts but the short answer story is RFDS saved my life...
Growing up and living in metropolitan Australia for most of my life, I never considered I may someday need the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Weirdly enough, even though I had lived in Karratha and Darwin and travelled to every corner of this magnificent country for work or holiday, the RFDS was always "for other people". This all changed on the 1st November 2025.
On 31 October 2025, I had taken the weekend off from work while on a trip to WA and had flown to Esperance to meet some friends for dinner then help with an emergency exercise at Esperance Airport next morning. It was my fourth trip to Esperance over as many years and I was looking forward to a great night and spending the next day with a great bunch of people practicing an emergency aircraft landing at the airport.
While walking to dinner that night I felt a bit queasy but decided it was nothing. I ordered a drink and some dinner and tried to enjoy what should have been a great evening. Instead, just after the entre was served, I turned to Scotty and said, "I don't feel so great". Apparently, I had turned so pale you could see through me, and he asked did I need to go to the hospital. Naturally I said no and decided to walk back to the motel to sleep it off.
To be continued in Part 2....
So far this year
I’ve helped provide...
33
Laryngoscopes – used to assist in intubating and ventilating a patient.
20
Life-saving medical chests for a remote, rural or regional community.
19
Defibrillator Pads – used with a machine to monitor a patient’s cardiac health.
TOP DONATION
Thank you to my supporters
100% Total Legends
Matthew Harper
$540
Nicholas Kleinig
$500
Euro Sew and Knit
$269.13
Top Fans
Proud Supporters
My Updates
Why? - Part 3
Tuesday 25th AugSo, I am lying on that lounge thing in the photo and after a quick check of the vitals and a feel of my abdomen, John and his partner cut my shirt off and attach every probe and sticky thing you can imagine to me.
I think it was at about this point I motioned to Nick to come over and I said something like “mate, you can get it started, I will only be a minute or two”. Nick looked at me as if I was some type of demented fool and I realised I also had Shane from the Shire Council, the Airport team, two fantastic police officers and one of the community of local volunteers who had shown up to be crash survivors in a protective circle around me. John said something I missed but it was clear they were calling the exercise off. Shane stayed and spoke to me and made sure I was ok while Nick and the police explained the situation to the waiting crowd.
Things went a bit blank there for a couple of minutes and I then remember John and his partner going through the clinical signs of appendicitis or cholecystitis (gallbladder). At the same time, I realised that I had the entire exercise group watching me while snacking on the Subway lunch and enjoying a relaxing soft drink.
It wasn’t long after that John spoke to the police and all the volunteers left. It was a really surreal moment, a group of people I barely knew, wishing me well, making sure they would find out the outcome and happily returning to their lives.
John then told me we would be going off to the hospital. I must have suggested I should drive because Nick took my car and motel room keys off me and assured me everything would be taken care of. I was then transferred to the stretcher with more human resource than I deserved, 2 ambo’s, 2 police, 2 senior council officials, an airport team picking up any of my bits and pieces and off we went.
Continued in Part 4…
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Why - Part 2
Monday 24th Aug
