For years, Steve had supported the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section), knowing his donations would help someone else in their time of need. He never imagined that one day he would be the one relying on the RFDS.
Having grown up in the country, Steve has always felt a strong connection to rural life. Today, he lives with his partner, Jeff, on their goat farm, surrounded by the wide-open country they both love.
As qualified nurses, Steve and Jeff have dedicated their careers to caring for others. Away from work, they share a passion for exploring Australia, travelling to Cape York, Uluru and across the Nullarbor, and taking every opportunity to experience the country's most remote and beautiful landscapes.
"There is something about wide-open country," Steve said.
"The silence, the scale of it and the feeling that you could drive for hours and not see another soul. For Jeff and me, that openness is part of what we love about the outback."
After a couple of weeks exploring New South Wales and South Australia, they were heading home through Birdsville.
Steve and Jeff are experienced travellers who head out ready and equipped, taking every safety precaution. They always travelled with handheld SOS devices and packed intercoms in their helmets, allowing them to chat and warn each other about conditions ahead.
"I saw Jeff pull up ahead and he said over the intercom, 'Let's watch out around the corner up here, there has been some rain overnight and the road looks a bit slick,' which was unusual for such sandy country," Steve said.
"As I saw it ahead of me, I slowed down and stood up on the foot pegs and away I went.
"That is the last thing I remember."
Jeff watched as the front wheel of Steve's bike appeared to hit a hole in the road, causing it to somersault forward and throw Steve from the motorcycle, knocking him unconscious.
After briefly regaining consciousness and speaking with Jeff, Steve blacked out again, fell backwards and stopped breathing.
Drawing on years of nursing experience, Jeff immediately began CPR, completing four to five rounds before Steve started breathing again.
"I later learned I went into cardiac arrest and that Jeff gave me CPR on the roadside," Steve said.
"All I remember is waking up with no idea I had stopped breathing."
Around 30 kilometres from Birdsville with no phone reception, they had few options.
Jeff made the courageous decision to put Steve on the back of his motorcycle and ride cautiously all the way into Birdsville, aware that every bump in the road made an already difficult journey even more challenging for Steve.
At the Birdsville clinic, the nurse, with help from Jeff, assessed Steve's injuries, provided pain relief and fitted a protective collar to keep his neck still. She also contacted the Flying Doctor for medical advice and to arrange his retrieval, ensuring Steve was receiving care and support well before the aircraft arrived.
"When I heard the RFDS aircraft was coming, I felt this overwhelming sense of relief," Steve said.
"And I'd never felt so good about being an RFDS donor."
When the RFDS crew arrived, Steve said their professionalism, compassion and constant communication helped him feel safe despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
"If I had questions, they answered them and kept me informed of flight times and checked how my pain was. They were on the ball," he said.
"You had your own nurse and beeping equipment, so it was like an ED cubicle with wings."
Steve was flown aboard an RFDS King Air B200 to Toowoomba Hospital, where doctors were able to fully assess his injuries, confirming he had sustained three fractures in his cervical spine. The months that followed were challenging, but Steve gradually found his way back to the life he loves - spending time with Jeff, tending to his garden and caring for their animals.
Grateful for the care he received and the second chance it gave him, Steve is determined to make the most of his life.
"It's given me an opportunity to live my life, help others as much as possible, love unconditionally and just enjoy what we have on this earth," he said.
For RFDS Flight Nurse Manager, Jo Mahony, stories like Steve's show why the aircraft matter as much as the people on board.
"The distances we're dealing with don't change, so having reliable aircraft is essential," Jo said.
"If you can save a few minutes, it can mean the difference between life and death."
After 20 years of service, the B200 fleet that carried Steve to care is now approaching retirement, with the next-generation King Air 260C set to continue its legacy and help ensure Queenslanders can access the care they need, wherever they are.
The RFDS was there when Steve needed it most, just as his donations had helped ensure it would be there for countless others before him.
It's a powerful reminder that no one ever expects to need the Flying Doctor, until the day they do.
Whether you live in the suburbs of a major city or on a cattle station in remote Queensland, you can help bring the King Air 260C closer to service, fitted-out as an intensive care unit with wings for the Queenslanders who rely on this life-saving care. Donate today.
