Let’s soar together! Help me raise funds to keep the Flying Doctor flying.
Before packing her bags to leave town this week, a talented local traveller has left behind a powerful challenge for our community—and a beautiful piece of art to kick it off.
She has donated a stunning, painstakingly handcrafted doll to be raffled at the newly relocated craft shop on Argyle Street, with 100% of the proceeds going straight to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
The idea was born out of a personal dilemma. The RFDS is currently running its major fitness campaign, challenging Australians to complete an 87 km fun run over a month to raise sponsorship funds.
"I travel constantly, so I don't stay in one place long enough to build a local network of sponsors—and frankly, I didn't want to do the running!" the creator laughed. "But I still desperately wanted to help keep our doctors in the sky. For anyone living or travelling out here, that twin-propeller engine is our ultimate safety net. So I thought, what can I do? I can make dolls."
The beautiful doll is now on display at the Argyle Street craft shop. The shop owner, renowned for her community spirit and for running a free support group for local businesswomen, eagerly stepped up to host the fundraiser.
Neither the creator nor the shop owner touches a cent of the money. Generous locals simply drop into the shop, scan the official RFDS QR code on the counter, and donate directly to the charity using their smartphone. The system is completely electronic, and every donor instantly receives a tax-deductible receipt directly from the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Once a donation is made, shoppers can show their digital receipt to the counter to claim their raffle tickets. However, the creator emphasizes that you don't have to enter the raffle to make a difference.
"If you just want to make a straight contribution to keep the planes flying, please just walk into the shop, scan the code, and make a donation," she said. "And you don't have to lace up running shoes to save a life, either. If you have a skill, a craft, or a unique idea, use it! We want to inspire other locals to bring their ideas to the table, make their own contributions, and run their own mini-fundraisers through the craft shop. Let's see how much we can raise together."
The raffle will remain open at the Argyle Street craft shop until it is drawn on [Insert Date]. Locals are deeply encouraged to drop in, view the doll, make a life-saving, tax-deductible donation, and get inspired to contribute their own talents to this incredible cause.My impact
So far, my fundraising could help…
Provide a full range of life saving medication such as sedatives, pain relief and antibiotics so the Flying Doctor can be ready for 0 emergency situations.
Send 0 life saving-medical chest to remote communities
Provide one on one counselling to 0 outback Australians during a difficult time
Purchase 0 pieces of equipment that could include ventilators, defibrillators and infusion pumps which are used on board flights
