The Royal Flying Doctor Service has attended the station twice in the 10 months we have been here. It is a very important lifeline for all those who live in remote parts of Australia.
A photo of the RFDS plane landing on our station airstrip in the early evening.
The following was taken from the RFDS web page for those who read our blog from around the world and may not be familiar with the RFDS.
"The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) is one of the largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations in the world. Using the latest in aviation, medical and communications technology, it delivers extensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency service to those who live, work and travel throughout Australia.
The RFDS is a not-for-profit organisation. While supported by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, the RFDS relies heavily on fundraising and donations from the community to purchase and medically-equip its aircraft, and to finance other major capital initiatives. Today, the RFDS has a fleet of 63 aircraft operating from 21 bases located across the nation and provides medical assistance to over 290,000 people every year – that’s one every two minutes."
Its History !
Once more taken from the RFDS web page ... http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/About-Us/Our-History/
Once more taken from the RFDS web page ... http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/About-Us/Our-History/
"The RFDS began as the dream of the Rev John Flynn, a minister with the Presbyterian Church. He witnessed the daily struggle of pioneers living in remote areas where just two doctors provided the only medical care for an area of almost 2 million square kilometres. Flynn’s vision was to provide a ‘mantle of safety’ for these people and on 15 May 1928, his dream had become a reality with the opening of the Australian Inland Mission Aerial Medical Service (later renamed the Royal Flying Doctor Service) in Cloncurry, Queensland." Over the next few years, the RFDS began to expand across the country.
On this occasion !
We are very fortunate to have a mine's ambulance stationed at the Bellare Mining Centre at the edge of the station. They are about 50 minutes away on the dirt road entrance to the station to our east. On this occasion they were the forst on the scene and carried out all the initial first aid and waited until the RFDS arrived about 3 or 4 hours later.
The RFDS paremedics preparing to move the patient on board their plane
The patient being lifted up onto the plane ready for the flight to Broken Hill in NSW.
Preparing to take off.
The Tyranny of Distance is made just that little bit easier knowing the RFDS is there when you need them !
If you would like to know how to support the RFDS use the link below to read about what you may do ... even in a small way.
http://supportus.flyingdoctor.org.au
