Community & Business
6 April, 2022
Local community group makes generous donation
Following the success of their 2022 Pittsworth Calendar, the Happy Snappers of the Downs made a generous donation at the RACQ Clive Berghofer LifeFlight Centre which will go towards keeping the life-saving helicopters in the air.
Local photographers who make up the group - Hugh Miller, Robyn Garratt, Evan Williams and Inge Gajczak - came together to collate a community calendar using photos they had taken around Pittsworth in 2021.
The calendar was distributed across the Downs and was a great success, with almost all 250 copies that were printed being sold and many people saying they are looking forward to next year’s edition.
From these sales, the group chose to donate $1 for each copy of the calendar that was printed to RACQ LifeFlight.
As such, a total of $250 was given to the not-for-profit organisation.
The community group visited the RACQ Clive Berghofer LifeFlight Centre to donate the proceeds and receive a complete tour of the facility.
There, they became aware of the extent of the work performed by RACQ LifeFlight Rescue and the costs associated with maintaining this organisation.
RACQ LifeFlight Rescue’s Fundraising Coordinator for South West Kim Cadman said without the generosity of people like those in the Happy Snappers of the Downs community group, running the LifeFlight helicopter would not be possible.
“RACQ LifeFlight Rescue is a world leader in aeromedical care, with a core purpose to save lives and serve the community,” Ms Cadman said.
“Now operating with an advanced fleet of helicopters and Air Ambulance jets, this vital rescue service provides the people of Queensland with the assurance that emergency medical care is available 24/7, 365 days a year, no matter where you live.
“Last year the Toowoomba base helicopter did 693 rescue missions, this is at
no cost to the patient with, one rescue costing up to $25,000.
“The helicopter is 65 per cent government funded and the other 35 per cent is where RACQ LifeFlight Rescue relies on support from the Queensland Community to raise vital funds and help cover the operating costs.
“Without your support, we simply couldn’t continue this lifesaving work.
Ms Cadman thanked the community group for its hard work, its support and generous donation.
To order a copy of the 2023 calendar in advance, contact the group via email at happysnappersofthedowns@gmail.com or call 4693 1915.
