Barkly Downs Station has been awarded the 2018 RFDS Local Hero Award for Mount Isa.
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These awards give the Flying Doctor – also celebrating its 90th anniversary this week – an opportunity to say thanks to those people in the community who go to incredible lengths to ensure the RFDS can continue its lifesaving work across Queensland and Barkly Downs Station manager John Imeson was on hand to accept the award at a morning tea on Tuesday at the RFDS Mount Isa Base.
According to the citation for the award Barkly Downs Station is a 10,000 sq km property between Mount Isa and the Northern Territory Border which maintains an RFDS Medical Chest and the first aid training to use it, along with several RFDS-approved airstrips.
The RFDS said the Barkly Downs crew have been long-time practical supporters providing their airstrip and crew after hours every year for night training exercises and participating in RFDS promotional work, including videos and photoshoots.
Their proactive work paid off when a worker on Barkly Downs was seriously injured in a remote part of the property last year. The managers and team provided excellent on-site first-aid in consultation with the on-call RFDS doctor.
They flew the injured worker via helicopter to the homestead where they met the RFDS aircraft for a rapid transfer to initial treatment at Mount Isa and then a further RFDS flight direct to Brisbane for specialist care.
Mr Imeson said they had done a lot of night training on the airstrip with the RFDS.
“I don’t have a problem supporting them, they do a great job,” Mr Imeson said.
Also nominated for the Local Hero award were the Cloncurry Police and Birdsville local Jenny Lansberry while Sweers Islands residents Tex and Lyn Battle won the Spirit of John Flynn Award.
“I feel like a fraud, we owe the RFDS far more than we owe them,” Mr Battle said.
“For 30 years they’ve been our back-up and support.”
Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) CEO Nino Di Marco said the RFDS Local Hero Awards, proudly were established a way of thanking and acknowledging those outstanding individuals who tirelessly and selflessly support the work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in their region.
The winner receives a $5000 voucher and entry into the state awards.