LUNA PARK was the venue chosen (just for fun!) to launch the 2018 Outback Car Trek, the 29th such trek that supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
This year is the RFDS’s 90th anniversary and Sydney Harbour’s foreshores became part of the “Flying Doctor” setting – giving the Service some “city” publicity and profile.
It also gave a chance to show-off the Dubbo-based Mobile Education Unit - a complete fuselage of a RFDS Beechcraft King Air complete with aeromedical fit out and full cockpit, used for education and events.
Driver, Penny Watts said she had to tow it right through the fun park to turn around, so the “Fying Doctor” landed in a big way.
The trek started from Tamworth on June 2 and finished at Airlie Beach, Queensland seven days later and raised some $1.3 million, which combined with the previous 28 treks has produced a total of close to $30 million for the Service.
This year 82 specially reinforced pre-1978 cars and 27 support vehicles covered 3500 kilometres.
In the 29 treks, the longest running and successful charity motoring event since 1990, 900 towns and villages right across Australia have been visited and cars have clocked up 110,000 kilometres.
The service relies heavily on donations and fundraising from the community.
