Day 10 Alice

It’s a relaxing day and the only thing on the agenda is a trip to the ‘School of the Air,’ and the Royal Flying Doctor base. The school is one of about 16 located around the country. It serves about 130 students spread out over an area of 1.3 million square km. The effort that goes into educating the kids living in isolated areas is awe inspiring. It is a Herculean effort by all involved. Satellite internet systems have to be set up and maintained, lessons must be mailed, corrected and returned, library books are posted, teachers visit student’s homes and the list goes on. It was a short but impressive tour. The Royal Flying Doctors is the pet charity of the majority of pilots in Australia. Like the school, the efforts of all involved in the organisation are remarkable. As an example, they evacuate over 31,000 people a year from isolated areas to a hospital. It is a 24/7 job doing some of the most challenging flying around. Inspiring visit.