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Opinion piece written by .
Participants and sponsors of the recently completed 12 day Steadfast Outback Air Race went above and beyond expectations in their quest to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
First held in 1996, the event is a GPS-based navigation time trial across the Australian outback. Pilots nominate an elapsed time between two visual waypoints on each race leg, receiving points for both time and location accuracy.
The previous seven races rose over $1.5 million for the RFDS. This year’s event, held from 23 August to 4 September, exceeded all fundraising targets. By the time of the finale on Hamilton Island 4 September, the funds raised exceeded $560,000.
“The fundraising is almost double that of the 2012 event. The level of engagement by participants and in particular, sponsors, has never before been so strong”, said Stuart Payne, Event Race Treasurer.
Stuart, an Engineering Manager and pilot from WorleyParsons’ Perth office, teamed up with two other Perth engineer/pilots, Rowan Hill and Peter Kneale to form team “Bad Mooney Rising”, flying a Mooney 201. All three are also on the race organising committee, Rowan as Race Manager and Peter as Webmaster.
Bad Mooney Rising placed 3rd in the overall race rankings and were winners of the Yulara to Alice Springs Leg. Giving them great competition were Daniel DeVere and John Goerke, both engineers with GR Engineering Services in Perth, konwn as Team “ENC Consulting” and flying a Piper Comanche.
This year’s event involved over seventy people and 24 aircraft which emerged at each destination through scuds of rain or shimmering heat haze. The remote communities visited could be forgiven for thinking “Priscilla” was touring as a golden leg emerged from aircraft on their local airstrips. This was no visiting drag show but instead a symbol of charity which was proudly and protectively slung from the shoulders of “leg winners” participating in the Air Race.
Once introduced, locals sought to add their contribution and give back to the RFDS which in many cases had touched their lives or at the very least, those of family or friends.
Mr Bill Mellor, RFDS national board member, sat at the finalé dinner in disbelief as this figure was announced. “I cannot believe the personal dedication and generosity of participants, sponsors and the organising committee”, said Mr Mellor.
For more info please visit www.outbackairrace.com.au