The Flying Doctor

Many of us have probably dreamed of running away to a deserted island! But what if you actually lived on one, 365 days of the year? Ruby and Heinrich (and their toddler Lucas) are the full-time caretakers of Qld's remote One Tree Island. But as well as dealing with the daily and often extreme 'remote work' challenges of keeping an island - and all its visiting scientists - running smoothly, they are also the official custodians of an RFDS Medical Chest. There are around 3500 RFDS medical chests located all around the country - often on remote outback stations and tiny townships across rural and remote Australia. But for Ruby's baby son Lucas, access to an RFDS medical chest became critically important - on the day that Scarlet Fever came to visit One Tree.***Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains content about suicide. "The black dog follows you...and hangs close on your flying skirts with hungry fangs". So said the ancient Roman poet Horace some 2000 years ago, as he struggled with his own 'inner demons'. Yet even today, despite our growing understanding around the science and prevalence of mental health issues, many rural and remote Australian's still wrestle with the social stigma and inter-generational pressures of THEIR black dogs. And for those country blokes who live and work in isolation and under pressure - including our farmers, miners and truckies - feelings of anxiety, stress, depression and despair can often feel overwhelming. Buckling under the inter-generational expectations of his family's farm, Wes Herring was one of those blokes - and he openly admits he HAS been to hell and back. But he's still here. He's still farming. And these days, Wes is soothing HIS savage beast with a feast of thoughtfully penned and inspiring bush poetry.***Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. In an emergency, always call 000. If you or anyone you know needs help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN. You can also reach out anytime to your local RFDS health clinic or connect with others via the RFDS mental health support program We've Got Your Back | Facebook To buy Wes's new book, you can text or call him on 0408 218 019. There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

When Sean Pollard felt something 'bump' his leg while surfing off the Esperance coastline back in 2014, he had no idea what had hit him. Until the 3.5 meter Great White Shark that was attacking him, came back for another bite. Seconds later, having lost an arm and his other hand, Sean realised his only chance of survival was to swim some 100 meters back to the shore...to his waiting girlfriend (and now wife) Claire. All the while, that same shark continued circling and waited for him to bleed out. Incredibly, Sean not only survived that terrifying ordeal - but he's since thrived. After marrying the love of his life and having a beautiful baby daughter together, Sean is now an international para-Snowboarding champion, with his sights firmly set on the 2026 Winter Olympics.***Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. You can follow more of Sean's remarkable story and Snowboarding updates via his website at Sean Pollard There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

Simon Green isn't the first country bloke to put off going to the Doctor. But when an extremely rare and sinister tumour began snaking its way down his spine, time was not on the father of three's side. In less than four weeks, his symptoms morphed from mild discomfort to nerve tingling to full-blown paralysis of his lower body. With Simon's condition quickly deteriorating, his Doctors arranged an emergency RFDS evacuation to Newcastle. Later, specialists from around the world would consult on the best way to salvage his spinal cord and save Simon's life - after diagnosing him with a cancer of the Central Nervous System that accounts for less than 2% of all brain and other CNS tumors.***Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us.There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

For many remote and rural country kids, the dream of one day becoming a Doctor is just that. A dream. Because the challenges of vast distances to school and study, a lack of mentors and the often-daunting University entry pathways can all seem insurmountable. But the founder of the Boots to Scrubs scholarship and mentoring program for young rural women, RN and fifth year medical student Chloe Campbell, is keen to change this view. As a remote, rural woman who also happens to be dyslexic, Chloe is on a mission to inspire more country kids to consider a pathway into medicine, nursing or allied health - and she's leading by example. Having just returned from a life-changing one month placement with the RFDS in Broome, WA, Chloe says the title of 'Flying Doc' is now one she's keen to pursue.***Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. You can also find out more about the Boots to Scrubs scholarships and free mentoring programs here. Contact — Boots to Scrubs There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

After experiencing a childhood filled with outback road trips, RFDS Policy and Advocacy Advisor Doug Wyllie carries the red dust of a million miles of the Australian outback in his veins. From the stories of wearing swimming goggles while his parents negotiated driving along an outback road without a windscreen, to the real-life RFDS rescue mission he launched on the remote Birdsville track, Doug shares his crazy adventures along distant 'tracks less travelled'. And this episode also comes with a listener WARNING! You may be at risk of wanting to jump in your car or hop aboard a motorbike and immediately head 'out bush', after listening to Doug's tall tales. But if you do, just make sure to look out for any bull dust!***Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. You can also find out more about the volunteer HF Radio network mentioned in this interview at VKS-737 The Australian National 4WD Radio Network. There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

What to bring when you haven't got a thing? For those rural and remote families who suddenly find themselves aboard an RFDS flight to a faraway city hospital, having a few 'overnight essentials' close at hand can make all the difference. But it was at the moment when Kalgoorlie mum, Kim Luke, found herself in that very situation - with just her sick son's Batman Backpack with her on an emergency retrieval flight to Perth - that the idea of a 'Grab and Go Bag' came to her. But what makes Kim's generous idea even more remarkable was that at the time, she was facing one of the worst days of her life. Because Kim's son Jayden was gravely ill, and his Doctors had no idea what was happening to him. Today, Jayden is a health, active boy who loves his bikes. But just a few short years ago, Jayden was diagnosed with one of the most common but aggressive forms of childhood cancer - a Wilms Tumour. This is Jayden's journey.****Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. To find out more about WA's RFDS Grab and Go Bags, you can visit Grab 'n Go Bag | Rotary Club of Boulder Western Australia or Boulder Rotary Club of WA donate grab and go bags for RFDS patients | Royal Flying Doctor ServiceThere has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

Sophie Smith is the proud mother of five boys. But three of her sons spent just a short, beautiful time in their mother's arms. Because triplets Henry, Jasper and Evan were born way too soon. Today, Sophie runs marathons with other mums across Australia, and she and her supporters have raised nearly $10 million through the Running for Premature Babies charity that she founded with her late husband, Ash. Because when Sophie's waters broke at just 21 weeks, Doctors told her that her babies simply could not survive and would not be resuscitated. In that moment, Sophie vowed that her tiny boys' lives would be remembered for so much more than just their death.****Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. You can follow this link to find out more about Running for Premature Babies. There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.