Over The Top Tag Along Tour 2017 Project at Broome WA

We are delighted to report that a TV has been installed in the waiting room located at the new Royal Flying Doctor Service airport terminal in Broome, Western Australia.

This project arose from the Tag Along Tour 2017 visiting the Rotary Club of Broome on 21 June 2017. Our members shared our Tag Along Tour activities at the meeting and the Broome Club responded with a donation of $500.

During that memorable meeting with President Lyn and the Members we learnt from member Richard that there is a new Royal Flying Doctor Service base now located in Broome which is an upgrade of the previous base located at Derby. This was exciting for us and we arranged a visit of the base where we met staff including Base Administrator Tracey.

During the detailed tour and explanation of the base and WA procedures including preparations for Royal Flying Doctor Service Jet plane services (Darwin is closer to Broome than Perth) the great question was asked. “Given that Broome Rotary Club has just donated $500 which the Tag Along Tour would match to carry out a small but significant project to benefit the clients of the base, either at the base or on community, what may it be?”

After exploring a range of options and ultimately gaining approval it was agreed to install a TV where patients could benefit from this simple and common form of comfort.

A generous quote was gained from the company that installed the wiring of the new building and the TV was mounted and connected to system.

The Rotary eClub NextGen based in District 9640 Gold Coast has now conducted the 4th Tag Along Tour. This year it travelled from Atherton to Broome and back to Longreach. It visited clubs on route including Atherton, Mt Isa, Darwin, Darwin Sunrise, Kununurra, Broome, Longreach and eClub of Outback Australia. The primary beneficiary being the Royal Flying Doctor Service which is an essential medical service covering 80% of the Australian continent.

Members of the Tag Along Tour 2017 represented Rotary Clubs of Takapuna, Tauranga Te Papa, Walcha, Bundaberg East, Broadbeach, Ashmore, Mackay North, George Town, Cowra and eClub NextGen.

We are proud to report this project as another of the benefits generated by Rotary eClub NextGen Tag Along Tours.

The next Tag Along Tour starts August 12th 2018 at Port Augusta bound for WA Wine, Wild Life and Flowers.

Ian Yarker

What R.F.DS. does in WA………

In Western Australia alone, the RFDS services over 2.5 million square kilometres, with 16 aircraft and six operating facilities - located at Jandakot, Kalgoorlie, Meekatharra, Port Hedland, Derby and Broome.

Our aircraft fleet consists of 15 Pilatus PC-12s and a Hawker 800XP Jet, otherwise known as the Rio Tinto LifeFlight Jet.

The RFDS reached more than 60,000 people last year, delivering life-saving aero medical evacuations and transfers, and a range of primary healthcare services to those who live, work and travel across WA.