Bay to Birdwood charity partner Royal Flying Doctor Service’s long connection with classic and vintage cars
This year’s charity beneficiary from the Bay to Birdwood run has a long connection with classic and vintage cars but today is airborne.
Adelaide Hills
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One is the butt of car enthusiasts’ “that’ll buff out” jokes, the other described as “garden art”.
But, to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), these two bombs are part of a cherished cultural history.
Today, the RFDS has modern medical aircraft but, back in the day, its healthcare workers flew along dusty roads in cars. In one treasured image, RFDS founder John Flynn is captured traversing the outback in a battered Dodge Buckboard.
The RFDS is the official charity partner of this weekend’s Bay to Birdwood.
The RFDS is restoring two vintage cars – a replica of Flynn’s Dodge, rescued from an Adelaide Hills garden and another owned by former RFDS doctor Ashley Thomas.
Plans are under way to have the restored vehicles incorporated in displays at the RFDS Tourist Facilities in Alice Springs and Darwin.
“He (Dr Thomas) found the car somewhere in Wilmington in the mid-north and it still runs and drives,” RFDS Central Operations chief executive and car restoration enthusiast Tony Vaughan said.
Mr Vaughan said it was “special” to be selected as a charity partner for the Bay to Birdwood.