Men’s Shed dollars lift the wings for Angel Flight
WHEN a couple of blokes rocked into Dubbo Photo News last week, we didn’t expect one of them to say he’s an Earth Angel, genuinely mean it, and not have some serious tickets on himself.
Earth Angels are in fact a name given to volunteer Earth-bound drivers who pick up and deliver sick kids to the airport or home again, to connect with their Angel Flight service.
Barry Joseph is one such angel and Rick Young from the South Dubbo Veterans and Community Men’s Shed dropped in with him to share the news about a $1000 donation.
“We raised the money through a variety of activities, like the boot sale, sausage sizzles and doing up old furniture,” Rick said. The $1000 will go a long way – literally – toward supporting the Angel Flight service which in turn is kept in the air by volunteer pilots in aircraft they rent or own.
Angel Flight transports financially needy families to where they need to be to get medical help.
“So the pilot might have to fly from Dubbo to Cobar to pick up a child, then fly to Bankstown and home again,” explained Barry. “That’s about $2000 right there.”
Pilots frequently wear the costs themselves but in the case of one local who owns a number of franchise outlets around NSW, and flies around to manage them, he turns a business trip into an Angel Flight when he can.
It’s another great example of a community organisation like the South Dubbo Men’s Shed, (which is just $5 to join) making a genuine difference in family’s lives across the region through a little effort on the ground, to keep charities like Angel Flight in the air.
Well done!
About Angel Flight
Angel Flight pilots don’t carry aeromedical staff or medical equipment and don’t act as an alternative to the Flying Doctor (RFDS) or an air ambulance, but rather make what can be long, arduous road trips for sick kids, easier to bear. Donations are tax deductible. If you’re a pilot and would like to help, visit the Angel Flight website.
The Men’s Shed
z South Dubbo Veterans and Community Men’s Shed
z 60 Palmer Street, Dubbo
z Phone: 6882 0199
z New Members welcome.
Flying Doc’s new mental health partnership
DR Ai-vee Chua is the first Dubbo GP to start working with the new Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section (RFDS SE) Mental Health Nurse Support Service to help people with severe and complex mental health problems.
People with a diagnosable mental illness, willing to participate in therapeutic recommendations and review and who do not need an acute response, can get a referral from Dr Chua which will result in a response within 48 hours with a comprehensive mental health assessment.
Individual treatment plans will be tailored to the needs of each client.
Youth Exchange program information night
YOUTH aged between 14 to 18 years are invited to attend an information night about future Rotary Youth Exchange opportunities.
Students not yet ready are still encouraged to participate to find out what’s involved.
Rotary Youth Exchange provides an opportunity for high school students to live and study abroad.
Students spend up to 50 weeks living and studying in a foreign country with adopted host families, building goodwill and understanding between countries and developing personal responsibility and maturity.
The information night will take place at Club Dubbo, 6.30pm, Thursday, March 22.