RFDS Central Operations had one million reasons to celebrate in October.
Valued corporate partner Senex Energy stepped up to extend its support for the Flying Doctor to $1 million through a further three-year sponsorship.
This partnership was just one example of the incredible support the RFDS has received this year from our generous corporate partners, donors, fundraisers, volunteers and bequestors.
In all, you have helped raise more than $12 million to keep our crews in the air and on the ground, providing the finest care to regional and remote Australians.
All donations to the Flying Doctor support the ongoing operation of our aircraft and maintenance of our life-saving equipment.
Senex Energy’s individual commitment this year also supports 24/7 aeromedical access for employees who work almost 1,000 kilometres north of Adelaide in the Cooper-Eromanga Basin, as well as those living in and visiting rural and remote South and Central Australia.
Senex Managing Director and CEO Ian Davies (pictured above) said the oil and gas industry embraced its responsibility to help people and communities in areas where it operated.
“All of us at Senex are excited to be continuing our support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in bringing world-class medical care to remote communities,” Mr Davies said.
“This refreshed partnership will bring to almost a decade our joint efforts that have already seen Senex-badged aircraft undertake more than 5,200 aeromedical missions and 6,500 patients being airlifted so far. We thank the Flying Doctor for their unwavering dedication and service to the wellbeing of people in the Outback, including our own workers in the Cooper Basin.”
Cooper Basin pastoralist and station manager Peter Nunn knows first-hand how the RFDS can be crucial when the worst happens.
He has been airlifted twice with life-threatening injuries from Clifton Hills, the world’s second-largest cattle property, on the Birdsville Track.
Senex operates on the property, which is in the remote north-east corner of South Australia. In the first incident, a car rollover, Peter suffered three fractured vertebrae and broken ribs and his passenger was trapped under the vehicle with concussion. The Senex-sponsored Flying Doctor aircraft lifted them to hospital.
In August this year, Peter was thrown from a motorbike while cattle mustering and returned to work only last week after healing from a fractured skull, fractured neck, broken ribs and a punctured lung.
“I was pretty happy to see the Flying Doctor arrive,” he said.
One of more than 70 RFDS flying intensive care units in Australia, the Senex-badged aircraft (Pilatus PC-12) has:
• flown more than four million kilometres
• conducted more than 5,200 aeromedical missions
• airlifted more than 6,500 patients
• landed at more than 60 locations (SA and interstate)
• facilitated more than 20 health, and dental health, clinics in outback South Australia
“The RFDS is proud to deliver more than 50,000 episodes of health care throughout the Northern Territory and South Australia every year – equivalent to someone every 10 minutes,” Central Operations Chairman Peter de Cure said.
“The ongoing support from the entire community – including our public donors, community fundraisers, volunteers and corporate partners like Senex Energy – is critical to ensuring we continue to deliver the finest care to the furthest corner.”
"When you live out here you know two things for sure.
The summer's going to be hot and
the Flying Doctor will come when you call them."
- Peter Nunn, Clifton Hills Station,
pictured right with his sons Beau and Saxby.
