A dedicated group of local volunteers has raised $140,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), representing their fundraising efforts with the support of the Naracoorte community over the past year.
“At least once a week the RFDS lands in Naracoorte to airlift patients to Adelaide for life-saving surgery or specialist medical treatment,” says Mark Wellington, President of the Naracoorte & District RFDS Support Group.
“Those of us living in the country are all too familiar with the tyranny of distance and the importance of access to specialist care in times of medical emergency,” Mr Wellington says.
“The RFDS provides this vital access, not to just for those of us living in Millicent, but to more than 15 South Australians every day – in the outback, from the regions and in the city alike,” he says.
Since last year’s donation the RFDS has introduced to operational service the RFDS Medi-Jet 24, South Australia’s first purpose-built aeromedical jet. The $13 million aircraft was funded solely by bequests, sponsorships and donations from the community.
“We feel very humbled to have played our part with others in raising the funds for the RFDS to purchase the ultimate ‘flying intensive care unit’, capable of slashing total mission times of long-haul patient evacuations from the outback or interstate to specialist medical care,” Mr Wellington says.
“I extend my sincere thanks to every member of the Naracoorte & District RFDS Support Group for their hard work and commitment, and to our local community for their on-going support of our fundraising activities. So much can be achieved when people work together for a common goal,” he says.
Mr Wellington presented a $140,000 donation to Lindy Allchurch, Volunteer Coordinator of RFDS Central Operations, at the group’s AGM on Tuesday 13 August.
“This year’s donation takes the group’s total contribution to the Flying Doctor to more than a million dollars since it began fundraising in 1996, which is a remarkable achievement,” Ms Allchurch says.
“The latest donation, like those before, will be used to help meet the shortfall in our operational funding and to finance our capital-raising program for the purchase of our ‘flying intensive care units’ – the next to arrive late this year,” Ms Allchurch says.
“On behalf of everyone at RFDS – and the thousands of South Australians we airlift every year – we offer our heartfelt thanks for your hard work and service to your local community,” Ms Allchurch said.
Enquiries to get involved with Naracoorte & District RFDS Support Group are always welcome. Contact Mark Wellington, President, Naracoorte & District RFDS Support Group, on 0428 622 840.
