Year seven student, Harrison Clarke, could not believe his eyes when his normal Monday morning aviation class was met with the surprise visit of Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Pilot, Drazen Tolic.
Harrison, a budding pilot, donated his birthday money to the RFDS at the Jandakot Open Day on October 26.
“The Royal Flying Doctor Service is special to me as they have cared for a close friend in the past,” Harrison said.
“Also, my grandfather has been flown by the RFDS three times when he was living in the country. He now lives in Perth where he is much closer to the hospitals.
“I told my parents that I didn’t want birthday presents this year, instead I wanted to donate to the RFDS so they can continue to care for people like my grandfather.”
RFDS Pilot, Drazen Tolic, attended Harrison’s aviation class at Kent Street Senior High School to personally thank Harrison for his contribution and inspire the young students to pursue their aviation dreams.
“Harrison’s fundraising efforts provide a great example to his fellow classmates on the impact each individual can have in their community,” Drazen said.
“His ambitions to become a pilot connected his generosity with the RFDS. It was a great opportunity to visit the school to acknowledge Harrison’s impact and inspire the minds of tomorrow.”
The students had plenty of questions for Drazen about his career in aviation including his current position with the RFDS.
“Working for the RFDS is very satisfying and rewarding. The feeling you get when you are there for someone in need is indescribable,” Drazen said.
“As an RFDS pilot, I am frequently exposed to emergency situations where the impact of my work makes a real difference to someone else’s life.”
The Royal Flying Doctor Service is a vital part of WA’s health service, providing lifesaving aero medical retrievals and a range of essential health care services.
Fundraising efforts such as Harrison’s are greatly appreciated and help keep the Flying Doctor in the air.
