The Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA) will celebrate Flying Doctor Day this month to mark the 93rd anniversary of the very first Flying Doctor flight in 1928.
WA landmarks across the State will light up in red and blue and the RFDS will hold its first 24-hour Giving Day on May 17 to mark the anniversary and encourage Western Australians to support the service, which provides 24/7 emergency healthcare to anyone living, working or travelling in regional WA.
In 2019-20, the RFDS retrieved 9,033 patients across Western Australia, flying 8 million kilometres and spending 22,000 hours in the air.
Chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson said every Western Australian can be proud of the work done by the RFDS on a daily basis.
"The Royal Flying Doctor Service represents the quintessential sense of what it means to be Western Australian - that a mate will always be there to help when you need them most," she said.
'We are busier than ever, retrieving an around 26 patients per day from every corner of the State which is about 10 per cent more than average.
"The RFDS is incredibly fortunate to have so many supporters in WA and we encourage everyone to show their support for Flying Doctor Day in May."
Matched Giving Partners Rio Tinto, IGO and CBH Group are generously supporting the Flying Doctor Day campaign by doubling every dollar donated by the WA community until May 17.
This means donations to the campaign will be doubled, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $250,000.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott said Rio Tinto was proud to support the RFDS in its ongoing efforts to deliver essential healthcare and emergency services to remote and rural areas.
"The RFDS does an incredible job in assisting the community and to celebrate 93 years of RFDS service, Rio Tinto is delighted to match public donations and triple-match "RioGivers" employee donations during the Flying Doctor Day Appeal," he said.
"I encourage everyone to give generously, your support will greatly improve the RFDS' capacity to deliver life-saving treatments to those in need."
Western Australians are encouraged to celebrate Flying Doctor Day by:
- Donating to the 24-hour Giving Day on 17 May.
- Holding a Paper Plane Challenge at school or work.
- Sharing your best photos of WA landmarks lit up in blue and red on 17 May and tagging the Flying Doctor on Facebook or Instagram or using #FlyingDoctorDayWA (prize for the best photo).
