Story by Kendrea Rhodes. Photos courtesy of the RFDS.

Stories about the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) usually conjure feelings of pride and wonder. As Australian’s we are rightly proud of a world class aero-medical and health care system that spans this enormous country for the good of the people. And we wonder at the seemingly miraculous ways that the RFDS help people in need against all odds. More than 250,000 patient contacts occur every year, that’s one person every two minutes of the day, 365 days a year.

Right: Delia Smit, Nell McQuire, Anne Cooper, Heather Lee and Valda Hanna proudly “showing off” some of the knitted garments for World Vision and also for the Premature babies section of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital at a recent Church service. The whole church was decorated with garments - rugs draped over pews, the pulpit and communion rails whilst toys adorned the organ, beanies in the window sills and jumpers and scarves along the aisle, pews and kneeling pads.

Since 1990 when the first Christmas Tree Festival was held in Lobethal, to raise money for the Bible Society, a lot of money has been raised for this purpose.

Not only has the committee donated to the Bible Society but many local charities have benefited as well.