Birdsville Raceweek here we come for the 4th time.

One of several significant ways NextGen serves the Royal Flying Doctor Service is by catering at the Birdsville Raceweek. This is an important club partnership involving Flying Doctor Staff, our club championed by Geoff and supported by wonderful volunteers, this year from several different clubs in eastern Australia. This project is far from just a fund raiser. It spreads priceless goodwill as we represent the Royal Flying Doctor Service at the iconic races.

Our forward truck will arrive at Birdsville on Monday 29 August carrying all our catering equipment, gas barbeques, 10 metres of double layer serving and working benches, portable tables, 2 electricity switchboards,  3 electric Bain Maree etc.  Also all catering requirements including 4000 bottles of donated Benji Water, soft drinks, cups, clam shells, cutlery, serviettes, cooking equipment, full hygiene stores, washing up basins and chemicals, plus floor coverings for the hired 9m x 6m marquee. We also take tents and living items for some of our wonderful volunteers to set up in the caravan park which adjoins the food area located between the Birdsville pub, visitors centre and the southern end of the Birdsville airstrip. Yep it all happens in that space except the horse races. The race track is a few K’s out of town. Between the town and the racetrack is the free camping area which becomes home for about 7000 people for the event.

Next our refrigeration truck arrives Wednesday carrying all our consumables. Rib fillet steak, onions, bacon, sausages, eggs, lettuce, tomato, mushroom, milk, milo, tea, coffee, bread and buns.

The amazing volunteers arrive during this time and serious selling commences Thursday from 6.30am to about 9.30pm. Friday and Saturday are the busiest especially when the hungry crowds return from the race track late afternoon. The word quickly spreads about our awesome egg and bacon burgers so breakie trade is a biggie!

Over the past 3 years we have represented the Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland Section admirably providing good food at reasonable prices. The word goes around that we are back and the punters love us. They are generous with comments for our products and with donations to the most vital of outback services the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Many have personal stories of the brilliance of their Flying Doctor.

On Sunday having packed up the trucks commence the 1700 klm trip back to Brisbane.

Ian Yarker

Rotary e-Club NextGen