The Royal Flying Doctor Service Visit To BLPS

Tom Ryan from the Royal Flying Doctor Service visited our school with a simulator of the fuselage of an RFDS plane. The Grade 4s were lucky to get a chance to learn more about the Flying Doctors Service.

Tom told us about the RFDS and we found out a lot and heard stories that other people had told him about how the Flying Doctors have helped people from all over Australia. We also got to go on the plane and there were NO RULES. We could explore the equipment and imagine we were patients and the doctors and nurses. It was fun wearing the headphones and communicating with the other kids.

The history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service is on the $20 note. A man called Reverend John Flynn started the Royal Flying Doctors in 1928 and saved up to buy the first RFDS plane. This saved many lives and was the world’s first air ambulance. He also rode around on a camel to visit communities.

I learnt that when people live in the outback and far away it can be a six hour drive to the closest hospital, sometimes even a day’s drive. That’s where the Royal Flying Doctor Service comes in. They can get there faster than a car. They can also help on the scene and while they are flying to the hospital to get the patient ready.

Tom told us lots of stories about how the RFDS has helped saved lives and how important they are for the people living in remote parts of Australia.

By Allanah 4K