Sky High

The group has achieved sky-high results in its first year, raising more than $21,000 to buy new medical equipment and other vital supplies for the RFDS. They've done exceptionally well in their first year,” RFDS base administrator Jo Redden said. “We're really pleased to have an auxiliary here finally after seven years.” While the group started with about seven members this time last year, their numbers have swelled to about 16 as the passionate volunteers inspired others to join.

“We are always looking for new members,” auxiliary president Lynette Dean said.Mrs Dean said the group had raised thousands of dollars with a screening of smash hit movie Australia, plus raffles and selling merchandise at community events. “We raised a lot of money last year,” Mrs Dean said. But this year, the group hopes to raise more than just cold, hard cash. “We are really aiming to raise the profile of the service as well,” Mrs Dean said. She said the group was looking at running family-orientated events as fundraisers in its second year.

“We've discussed having an annual function or a ball, that is an affordable one for families,” Mrs Dean said. “It will all help, because it costs so much to keep the service running.” Mrs Roden is a member of the Bundaberg Wide Bay Burnett Auxiliary for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), which is celebrating its first birthday this month. “They have a very high standard of care,” Mrs Roden said. A former nurse with the flying doctors, she used the service as a patient when she was suddenly taken ill in Gladstone and flown to Brisbane for treatment.