RFDS - Outback Saviours

Saw a very funny sight out at the B/H base in 2007. This RFDS plane landed in a fairly severe dust storm, and after it taxied to the hanger, a young medic exited, after a day of outback clinics, knelt onto the tarmac on hands and knees, and lovingly kissed the tarmac, receiving loud cheering and clapping, with much laughter, from all who witnessed it.
A priceless moment.Image Could Not Be Found

Cairns also has a great RFDS display, even an older aircraft which you can board and see how it is fitted out.
My son in law was brought down from Chillagoe to Cairns with a broken leg in 2 places last year. I had to get a mate to drive me up there to bring back his truck, my daughter and grandkids.
They always get donations from us.
IGA have tokens if you buy the right foods and the grandkids always put them in the RFDS box, they are 5 and 3 1/2.

Hi Damien, yes, this organisation is near and dear to the hearts of most Aussies, especially those who have had some form of contact with, or available to them. As a young kid in the 50's my sister and I went to a boarding school in Alice Springs, from Mt. Doreen Station on the Tanami Track (and in those days it was a track). Each sunday the boarding school teachers would herd all the kids down the road to the Flynn memorial church for the sunday service (Flynn was the founder of the RFDS) and so I had a very early understanding of what this man had created. In those days we flew out in Connellan Airways aircraft, that were clad in painted cloth. They were mostly mail planes with a couple of seats available for passengers.
I am sure your grandkids will never forget this organisation.

Fred G.

I'M sure they wont Fred.
My brother was airlifted to Cairns many years ago in the early 60's by the then Cairns QATB in one of their aircraft from a station outside of Normanton. This was before the RFDS was herein Cairns

Damien, my parents worked on a sheep station "Beeantha" which was south of Normanton, towards Nelia, and north of the Flinders River in about 1958/59 then owned by the Slacksmith family. Can't have been too far away.
I haven't been to Cairns for over 40 years, but it is on our itineray.
HNY
Fred.

Fred you wont recognise the place after that time. I have been here for 47 years now and have seen all the changes.(to my way of thinking not for the better).
Call in for a beer when you get here, Cheers

Will do mate, take care.

Fred.

Willem

That dune shot of yours makes Big Red look like a road corrugation.

Cheers

Alan

Willem,

It was a pleasure to assist in the fundraising while at Innamincka. They do unbelievable things for people in the outback and along with Angel flight deserve more government funding.

Cheers Kev

Alan


Yes that is a serious dune.

Some locals from a village nearby took 3 Toyotas (2 Hi Lux's and a 45 series ute) up there along the back of the dune. Took 3 days to get up there. Then over the top and down the very steep front. All vehicles were fitted with an extra radiator!

I saw the photos. These blokes sent the photos to Toyota in Japan and eventually got a reply to say that anybody could do trick photography.

The dune is so steep it is impossible to climb it from the front. Take two steps forward and slip back 3!!

Quite an experience.


Cheers

Motherhen,

Im usually on the receiving end of these sorts of transports (transfer from Jandakot to hospital) All the staff that I have met that work with RuFDuS (our pet name ;)) (with the exception of one...grrr) are fantastic people and seem like those that will go the extra mile and will do anything to help out (even at Jandakot in winter at 2am). I dont thing I have ever had a RFDS patient that has ever had anything bad to say about the service and experience that they had whilst in the care of 'the flying doctor.'

I always enjoy having a chat to the flight nurse and pilot about where they have been on that particular day, and sometimes the distances and areas that they travel are quite long, with there days at times being up to 16 hours in the air.

Its great that the state govt bowed to public pressure and upped the funding for this service, it would have been a shame if they did not and this service was scaled down or a flight could not be made due to not enough $$ in the bank.

Hope your family ended up okay.

Yes thanks Mike. Most recent flight was on Boxing Day, and all personal were wonderful. I think the service should be fully funded by the federal government - even if it put our Medicare levies up a fraction.

Mh