I'm fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service

A very long time ago, the Mount Ias RFDS, saved my mother's life,  in the middle of the night on a pretty remote cattle station, in the Channel Country.

The base in Mt Isa was contacted via a Traeger wireless...not the pedal one!! A much more modern battery Traeger...once the doctor had been woken, he communicated with us, decided on an emergency evacuation . 

Flares, which were Sunshine milk cans, rope wicks, diesel soaked and kept under the airstrip  cone markers, were lit.

A couple of vehicles waited at the end of the strip, headlights shining down from the approach end....after the pilot radioed through ETA and direction.

We waited, anxiously, as my mother was in extreme pain...the sound of the plane, in the middle of the night was the most wonderful thing. Help was on the way...we were not alone...

After the plane left, with my mother, my father and I , packed a few things, and left to drive to Mount Isa, 6 gates, rough road for the first few hours or so ... Just about 6hrs later, we were in Mt Isa. 

My mother could have died that night, had not the Flying Doctor come in the middle of the night, somewhere close to the middle of Australia...

The RFDS was a life link, telegram sessions were 2 x day, School of the Air [ still is!] . 

All stations had call signs, the bases would read a list of "traffic for the following ..... 8YE, 8UT, ETC ETC..from Charleville RFDS's  N border right up to the Gulf,and across to meet the Cairns RFDS's W border...it was a massive area. 

There were not any phones, apart from driving over 120klm 5 bad gates, a lot of bull-dust, and rough roads...one way, only to find that " the phone's out..line down up Boulia way"!

Station clinics were a terrific opportunity for medical checkups and social interactions . ..I  believe they still are a part of the 'Mantle of Safety' provided by the RFDS.

I believe, whether we openly admit or unconsciously have not yet admitted...Mental, Physical and Spiritual health is what we all silently crave....I  also that the RFDS is an invaluable source of all...

You can make a difference!!!

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, with amazing nursing staff, but  not always with a doctor on hand, 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!

You can help...even a little..or a lot!!

Thank you..