Tenterfield’s Country Women’s Association (CWA) are helping to keep locals safe, as they donate $1,000 to a vital medical service connecting regional people to city services, Angel Flight.
Angel Flight is a charity coordinating access for country people to receive specialist medical treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them due to distance and travel costs.
On Tuesday, April 18th, a cheque was handed over to Robert Evans, President of Friends of Tenterfield Aerodrome, as a representative of Angel Flight.
Robert has been donating his time and aircraft to this vital service since their inception in 2003.
“I have done about 150 Angel Flight missions, and a third of those would be for people in the Hunter New England Region.”
“The donation will go towards the coordination and the running costs of flying aircrafts and driving people to and from the airport to hospitals,” he said.
Angel Flight provides a free flight for patients, and it is donations like these that keep them in the air.
“Angel flight in total, has conducted over 50 thousand flights and flown over 20 million kilometres, since they were founded 20 years ago.”
Tenterfield resident, Barbara Little, was present at this week’s donation handover, as a proud patient of this lifesaving service.
“I had heard of Angel flight but never thought it would be something I would have to use,” Barbara said.
Barbara was in a vehicle accident late last year, which left her without transportation and no way to get to her medical appointments in Newcastle. That is when Angel Flight was called.
Angel Flight took the stress and hassle out of the journey south and provided comfort and ease in an already unsettling time.
“I had a pilot and a plane waiting for me. They were just wonderful, they treat you so well,” Barbara said.
“I just want to say thank you for being there. I would hate to think where people would be without them.”
If you would like to donate to Angel Flight, please visit their website www.angelflight.org.au.
Top image: CWA members with Robert Evans for Angel Flight. (Peter Harris)
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