Flying Docs foster chaos and goodwill

THE streets of Winton were abuzz with the arrival of the 17th annual Outback Trek last week which wound through Orange in NSW to Queenland's Capricorn Coast.
As dusk fell on the colourful convoy of pre-1971 cars, Elderslie Street was cordoned off for the biggest single charity event of the seven-day road trip which fundraises especially for the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
Winton's special auction drew heavy bidding from locals and visitors alike, with Owen ‘Buddha’ Grant doing his bit for the cause and taking home a $2,000 Michael Klim swimsuit as an effect.
Mr Grant also acquired a very special pair of pottery boots, which have been directly cast from Senator Barnaby Joyce’s size 12 RM Williams - and filled with tawny port.
Although he has no grand plans as yet for his spur-of-the-moment purchases, and despite being a couple of grand lighter in his hip pocket, Mr Grant was more than happy to donate money to the RFDS last week.
"Something like the swimsuit doesn’t come up that often but I have no plans to sell it on eBay.
"The speedos are not going to fit me; that’s really something people wouldn’t want to see.
"They have come in a frame so I’m going to put it up at home as a bit of a talking piece."
Trek organiser Stephen Knox said every year brought new adventures for participants and 2006 has been no different.
"Doing it for the doctor brings the trekkers - most of whom are city folk - into close contact with the people of the Outback.
"We have been welcomed onto properties where other groups might not have been given such free access all because we are raising money for ‘their’ Flying Doctor.
"The trek bridges the city-country gap in such a positive and effective way."
The estimated $1.3 million raised over the week will be spent by the service on the purchase of a replacement aircraft which comes with a price tag of $8 million.