From Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to Mad Max, the remote red dirt region made world-famous on the silver screen is known as outback Australia's 'city in the desert'. But Broken Hill is also home to one of the oldest and largest RFDS bases in Australia - operated by the RFDS's South Eastern Section - and it provides medical services across NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, southwest Queensland and Northern SA. In this very special episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast, we explore the rich and vibrant community around Australia's first ever heritage-listed city and we discover the integral role that the RFDS plays in outback Australia, along with the extraordinary work being done by the many volunteers and community groups who support us. We also bring listeners along for a Cinderella-style ride to the annual Broken Hill Women's Auxiliary RFDS Ball. This annual fundraiser is not only a popular social event for the local community but is also a chance for this remote region's incredible range of community groups, RFDS staff and volunteers to come together and celebrate rural and remote health care. We also hear from some of this remote region's extraordinary volunteers, including long-time Auxiliary stalwart Jennifer Treloar - who may have some 'inside tips' on how to get your hands on one of the Broken Hill Women's Auxiliary's legendary Christmas Puddings!
The Far West NSW community of Broken Hill is located close to the border of South Australia and plays host to is tight-knit, hard-working and resilient community. In this episode, our Flying Doctor Podcast Producer, Sophie Campbell, travelled to the remote mining town to meet the local volunteers, community members and RFDS crew who help put together the famous annual RFDS Broken Hill Auxiliary Ball. It's an event that's all about raising money and awareness for the RFDS Wellbeing Place - a very special RFDS South Eastern Section community hub, that offers a range of Wellbeing services and programs in the town center of Broken Hill, as well as via specialised outreach services. In this episode, we also hear from Broken Hill Women’s Auxiliary President Marg Symes, who has also completed three epic endurance walks in recent years, all in a bid to raise money and public awareness around the RFDS’s Wellbeing Place and mental health services. Walking up to 380km each year, across red dirt desert landscapes and extreme heat, Marg was regularly overtaken by dusty road trains and was once even physically attacked by a Wedge Tailed Eagle while walking!
While at the ball, Sophie soon spotted a young woman with a leg brace who was keen to share her very recent flying doctor story. Bella Pratt has loved animals and agriculture all of her life. Originally from South Australia, but now working as a contract muster and livestock processor based in Broken Hill, Bella's very recent run in with a belligerent Billy goat, landed her on an RFDS plane. While she still has a long road to recovery, Bella was also keen to share with the Flying Doctor Podcast just how important the RFDS Wellbeing Place has been to her new life in Broken Hill. Bella is also hoping that events such as the Auxiliary Ball, will only help to increase the community conversations around mental health and wellbeing support for young people working in remote rural areas like hers.
You can find out more about the RFDS South Eastern Section Wellbeing Places at Wellbeing Places |NSW&ACT | Royal Flying Doctor Service | Royal Flying Doctor Service
and you can find the Broken Hill Women’s Auxiliary on Facebook at Royal Flying Doctor Service Broken Hill Women's Auxiliary | Facebook
