Territory hero to be honoured at CareFlight Hangar Ball on September 3
Sponsored content: Every year, for one night only, CareFlight’s hangar transforms into a ballroom to raise funds to support lifesaving aerial medical services.
Lifestyle
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ON Saturday September 3, CareFlight is inviting the community to frock up and pay tribute to a courageous and colourful character who was tireless in his delivery of medical care to Territorians throughout the 1930s.
Every year, CareFlight welcomes the community to enter the heart of their operations to wine, dine, dance and celebrate a piece of Top End history in their working hangar.
This year, CareFlight’s Hangar Ball is celebrating the incredible escapades of pilot and doctor Clyde Fenton, who was committed to treating and transporting patients from around the Territory.
From 1934 until enlisting in WWII, Dr Fenton was the medical officer of the Northern Territory Medical Service based in Katherine.
Dr Fenton provided and maintained, at his own expense, a small aircraft which he could land on various makeshift clearings to reach his patients.
Describing Dr Fenton as ‘a hero in Northern Territory folklore’, former chief health officer C.E.A Cook reflects in the preface to Fenton’s book, Flying Doctor, that ‘apart from the various medical duties he performed, the Northern Territory Medical Service required of him tasks … which, without him, would have been impossible to undertake.’
CareFlight had the incredible privilege of speaking to Dr Fenton’s patient, Les Cox, before he recently passed away.
Les was nine-years-old when Dr Fenton flew him from Pine Creek to Darwin Hospital for emergency surgery due to appendicitis.
“I would have been dead. Simple as that,” Mr Cox said.
“He took one look at me and said ‘you better come with me’.”
The aerial medical service which Dr Fenton pioneered nearly 90 years ago, is the service (now expanded) which CareFlight delivers today.
“Our Hangar Ball is our biggest annual fundraising event,” CareFlight general manager Philip Roberts said.
“Dr Fenton was able to fly to locations where there was no commercial airstrip, so the Katherine community raised funds to support him.
“This is the function our CareFlight NT Rescue Helicopter serves today and just like back then, we fundraise to keep delivering that medical care to patients wherever they may be across the Top End.”
Northern Territory and interstate businesses have rallied behind the organisation donating incredible items and experiences that will be auctioned off on the night.
Hoskings Jewellers have donated a $15,000 diamond ring which can be won by entering the online raffle at rafflelink.com.au/hangar-ball-2022.
“As we continue to wrestle with the challenges of Covid and the broader health needs of our community we really are so grateful for all the support we receive from local businesses and the NT community,” Mr Roberts said.
“Our patient numbers have increased by 20 per cent in the last two years and our staff are working hard to ensure Territorians have uninterrupted access to emergency care, so we need all the support we can get.”
The money raised at the event will help CareFlight continue to care for people on what is often the worst day of their lives.
Clare McNeven was kicked by a horse in February 2022 on a cattle station 800km southwest of Katherine.
“The pain was something that I couldn’t control,” Clare said.
“I screamed a lot … I can remember thinking this would be quite distressing for everyone else so stop screaming.”
CareFlight doctor Andrew Plews said the mission was challenging.
“There was an ongoing cyclone or weather warning … we knew that this was going to make the mission logistically very challenging,” he said.
CareFlight crews managed to land and travel to Clare by road. They provided pain relief and treated her leg for a broken femur to get back to the aircraft and transport her safely to Royal Darwin Hospital.
“I was very frightened … I’ll never be able to put into words my gratitude,” Clare said.
“I’m born and raised in the beef industry, spent most of my life on isolated properties. The reassurance as a patient or as a provider … the reassurance knowing that right, you’ve spoke to CareFlight and they’re on the way.”
CareFlight hangar Ball tickets can be purchased at careflighthangarball.org.
Tickets for the Diamond Ring Raffle can be purchased at rafflelink.com.au/hangar-ball-2022
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