Monday marked a special day for the crew of the Cairns Royal Flying Doctor Service, who were presented with $50,000 thanks to the RFDS Near and Far Auxiliary and an anonymous North Queensland family.
Members of the Auxiliary presented crew members with the donation at the RFDS Cairns Base on Monday morning.
The donation included $30,000 that had been raised by the auxiliary over the past year as well as an anonymous $20,000 donation which had been collected on behalf of a North Queensland family.
The money will benefit both the Cairns and Townsville RFDS bases.
RFDS Near and Far Auxiliary president Brenda Agius said the funds had been raised by various means, including multiple clearance and garage sales, street stalls, raffles, as well as the FNQ Rotary Field Days event.
"We also have donation tins stationed right across the region, in locations such as Charters Towers, Georgetown, Forsayth and Mount Surprise, for example," Ms Agius said.
"Several Auxiliary members make a 700-kilometre round trip annually to collect the donation tins. As our name suggests, we are well supported, near and far."
RFDS chief executive officer Meredith Staib said the donation would aid the purchase of equipment such as monitors and vaccine rated coolers to ship vaccines, as well as mental health resources.
"I'd like to thank the RFDS Near and Far Volunteer Auxiliary for their extraordinary efforts to raise vital funds for the Flying Doctor," she said.
"The RFDS relies heavily on the generous support of fundraisers and supporters, whose incredible work ensures we can continue delivering a range of healthcare services to regional, rural and remote Queensland.
"Today's donation by the RFDS Near and Far Volunteer Auxiliary will help ensure our staff have the necessary equipment and supplies to deliver the finest care to the furthest corner of the state."
The RFDS Near and Far Volunteer Auxiliary will be holding a clearance garage sale as their next fundraiser on October 16 at the Stan Moses Hall in Vernon Street, Atherton.
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