COFFS Harbour’s Outback Air Race participants Tim and Marguerite Alexander, are holding their first fundraiser for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) on 14 June.
It is an afternoon tea at the Coffs Harbour Aero Club at 2pm, featuring guest speaker Dr John Parker.
The Outback Air Race, which supports the RFDS, sets out from Australia’s Red Centre, Uluru, on 22 August and finishes in Carnarvon, Western Australia, on 8 September.
Tim and Marguerite’s team “Show Me The MOONEY!” is one of four entries from Coffs Harbour to take part in this year’s event.
“Our fundraising efforts involve a range of activities, from individual donations and fundraising events to sausage sizzles and raffle tickets,” Tim told News Of The Area.
“Our Afternoon Tea speaker, Dr Parker, will reflect on his humanitarian missions around the world.”
Dr Parker has 20-plus years’ experience working with the Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières on humanitarian medical missions, including three war zones, two epidemics and several refugee camps.
More recently he has worked as Senior Medical Officer in the refugee detention centres on Nauru, Manus Island and Christmas Island, as a medical officer in an Ebola Treatment Centre in Sierra Leone and he spent a year as an expedition medical officer on Davis Station in Antarctica.
He has authored three books, The Sports Diving Medical and Poetic Prescriptions for Feeling Good, and From Cholera to Ebola, which describes his more than 25 years working as a doctor in some of the most dangerous and troubled places on the planet.
The Outback Air Race takes place every three years, challenging teams of pilots and their navigators to fly over some of Australia’s most geographically challenging and stunning landscapes.
“This will be my third Outback Air Race, and we are excited to have another opportunity to participate in an amazingly exciting adventure in support of the RFDS,” Tim said.
Marguerite also loves flying in the Outback, having visited many far-flung and remote locations.
“During our travels we have come to appreciate the amazing work RFDS does in providing much needed emergency medical services and health care services to people who live in remote Australia,” she said.
“Every dollar helps deliver life-saving healthcare to these communities”.
To support the fundraiser, contact Marguerite on 0432 473 111 or Monica on 0412 951 952.
Further information on the Outback Air Race and the local participants can be found at outbackairrace.com.au/.
By Andrea FERRARI
