Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Queensland Section, Media Release, November 2023
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) has welcomed another remarkable Queenslander into the Lighting the Way Ambassador Program with the announcement of Kylee Tindale-Smith as its most recent inductee.
The Lighting the Way Ambassadors, selected for their genuine affinity with the Flying Doctor, work within their region to advocate for improved health and wellbeing outcomes for rural and remote Queenslanders.
The initiative, launched earlier this year, has so far inducted five influential Queenslanders to this important role including current RFDS (Queensland Section) Chair Russell Postle, Board Members The Hon. Bruce Scott AM and Emeritus Professor Robert Stable, the Travelling Jackaroo Sam Hughes, and CEO of Western Queensland Primary Health Network Sandy Gillies.
RFDS (Queensland Section) Chief Executive Officer Meredith Staib said the program plays a significant role in strengthening the RFDS’s connection with Queensland communities.
“Community is at the heart of the Flying Doctor, and this program celebrates and fortifies our enduring partnership with the people we serve,” Ms Staib said.
“Charleville’s long-standing history of service and its unique role as the longest serving RFDS Base in Australia make it a symbol of our commitment to this region.
“Without the ongoing support of Queensland communities, we would not be able to provide the finest aeromedical and primary health care to the furthest corners of the state.
“The Ambassador Program allows individuals and organisations who share our passion to recognise and champion our existing supporters, while motivating and inspiring others to join us on our mission.
“It is a testament to the enduring legacy of Charleville and the dedication of the entire RFDS team that we continue to light the way for the health and well-being of all Queenslanders.”
New inductee Kylee Tindale-Smith is a Charleville born-and-bred business owner and wool classer who uses her platform to promote important conversations focussing on rural mental health and wellness.
As a RFDS Ambassador, Kylee will champion the RFDS’s mission to provide world-class healthcare and ensure every Queenslander, regardless of their location, has access to critical medical services when they need them the most.
“I’m honoured to be a part of the RFDS Ambassador Program and to be inducted during such a momentous celebration for the Flying Doctor,” Ms Tindale-Smith said.
“With its rich legacy of service to Queensland’s South-West region, the Charleville Base is a shining example of the vital role the RFDS plays in connecting communities to essential healthcare.
“It’s this unique history and the tireless dedication of the base team that makes joining the Lighting the Way program all the more meaningful.
“I now have the privilege of helping to raise awareness about the work the RFDS does, build relationships with individuals and organisations that can support our efforts, and inspire a new generation of RFDS supporters.”
The Charleville Base celebrations also acknowledged the extraordinary 20-year commitment of two of its nurses, Joanne Mahony and Diane Dowrick, who have played a crucial role in the RFDS’s mission to provide quality healthcare services to the community.
The family of Dr Allan Vickers, who founded the RFDS Charleville Base and went on to become its first Flying Doctor, were also in attendance to mark the momentous occasion.
Established in 1943, the Charleville Base services a waiting room of more than 622,000 square kilometres, connecting the residents of the South-West Queensland region to leading, and often lifesaving, health services.
From saving a seven-year-old stroke sufferer to emergency trauma revival on helicopter crash victims and everything in between, the dedicated RFDS Charleville team have seen it all.
Over the past 14 years alone, RFDS Charleville has treated more than 56,000 patients across more than 6,700 clinics and undertaken 8,200 transfers. In fact, during this same period, the Charleville fleet has flown almost 6.5 million kilometres – the equivalent of eight return trips to the moon.
In addition to its critical medical services, the Charleville Base is also home to Queensland’s only RFDS Visitor Centre. The modern tourist precinct educates guests about the origins of the Flying Doctor and the evolution of the outback service, paying tribute to its remarkable history.
In Queensland, the RFDS operates from nine bases at Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Charleville, Longreach, Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Roma, and Townsville.
