flydoc australia e.v. Cairns Monday, 11th April 2005

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1 Cairns Monday, 11th April 2005 (Reported by Dr Hans-U. Henschel) The Cairns Base opened on 1st July 1972 when it relocated from RFDS Charters Towers. It covers an area around 800, 000 square kilometres. The service area is from Torres Strait in the north, to west of Sarina in the south, and to Normanton in the west. Photo: The RFDS Base in Cairns In the RFDS Base in Cairns I am cordially being welcomed by Base Manager Mike Lacey. After several visits one knows each other and is very pleased to meet again. Mike also tells me, that on the occasion of the 77 th birthday of the Royal Flying Doctor on 17 th May 2005, he will have been working for the service for 16 years. In that case I remarked jokingly the RFDS had to do without Mike for 61 years.

2 Photo: Base Manager Mike Lacey in conversation with Dr Hans-U. Henschel Since our last meeting already 1½ years have passed. In the meantime a lot has taken place. I am telling Mike about the phase the association flycdoc australia e.v. (Inc.) was planned, up to the foundation of the association, and what we have achieved so far. He is very impressed and shows his appreciation and gratefulness. Mike talks about the base. When I point out to him that it is rather difficult to find the base for the tourist travelling privately, Mike informs me about his latest project. At the hangar, directly at the Captain Cook Highway, a new base including a Visitors Centre, Museum and Shop is to be built, from where the visitor can watch the activities of the Royal Flying Doctors in the hangar and on the runway. The approximate completion of the project will be about Christmas This base will then be clearly visible for the traveller on the exit road from Cairns to the north at the airport and visible from the highway, there, where the hangar is already situated now.

3 Photo: The hangar of the RFDS Base at the Airport in Cairns In the base greet the present staff members. I am particularly pleased to meet the pilot in the office. It is Capt Warren Thomas on duty, whom I already met several days ago in Townsville Base on the occasion of the operation concerning the aborigine baby. Also present is Capt Mike Spencer, whom I met during my last visit in the hangar after an operation, The base has two aircrafts, a Beechcraft Kingair B200 and a Pilatus PC 12. Photo: Dr Henschel in conversation with the pilots of the RFDS Base in Cairns Capt Warren Thomas (left) and Capt Spencer (2 nd from right)

4 As climax of my visit, all the staff members present assemble outside the base building, where the handover of the donation of our association flydoc australia e.v. (Inc.) to the RFDS takes place. Base Manager Mike Lacey accepts the donation in the amount of AUS$ 2,000.- with great pleasures and gratitude. Mark directs a greeting message to the German donors with cordial thanks for the support. Photo: The handover of the donation by the association flydoc australia e.v. (Inc.) to the RFDS Base in Cairns members of the RFDS Base in Cairns The staff of the RFDS Visitors Centre in Cairns knows the German association flydoc australia e.v. (Inc.) and are also delighted about the donation from Germany. The readily point out to German tourist the possibility to donate to this unique RFDS service from home in Germany, as it might become essential for German tourists to survive when getting health problems in the outback of Australia. The donors can obtain a certificate for their support to the RFDS for the financial authorities in Germany.

5 Photo: Members of the RFDS Base Visitors Centre in Cairns Naturally, already now I am quite curious as to my next visit, maybe then to the newly opened Base at the Airport, at the Hangar of the RFDS at Captain Cook Highway. This visit and today s localities will then be for Australia is more important than ever. Receipt for the donation of AUS$ 2,000.- to the RFDS Base in Cairns