Rowan Ramsey (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, this is the first time I have spoken since you have been in the chair. Congratulations on your elevation to that position. I stand before you today as living proof that the Royal Flying Doctor Service is doing a great job. I had an unfortunate encounter with a ride-on mower on Father's Day. Luckily, my home town of Kimba, only 30 kilometres away, had a doctor on staff at the hospital at the time—that is not always the case, but more on that another day—and, upon perusal of my wounds, he decided I should be flown to Adelaide. It took a little while to get there because my injuries were not life threatening, but I did appreciate the local staff at hospital, the local ambulance staff, who I know well—thanks, Ian and Deb—and particularly the Royal Flying Doctor Service staff. I must admit that I did not have the presence of mind to get their names at the time, but I did really appreciate the service and also the call from the CEO, John Lynch, in the following couple of days.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service has a base at Port Augusta. It services over a hundred patients a day in South Australia. Interestingly enough, I flew to Adelaide in a PC12. It is a wonderful aeroplane, but they are to take delivery next year of a PC24, their first jet aircraft to operate in the South Australia region. I wish them well and thank them for their service.