Rinehart digs in for charity

Article courtesy of the Hobart Mercury.

Healthcare for Australians living in rural and remote areas will be given a $16m lift thanks to donations to the Royal Flying Doctors from Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart.

The Rinehart Medical Foundation and Hancock Prospecting will provide major cash injections to the NSW, Queensland and Western Australian sectors of the 95-year-old organisation which relies on donations to fund a third of the healthcare it provides.

Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section) Chief Executive Officer Greg Sam said the $4m boost for NSW comes at a “challenging” time in its history as the RFDS had played a critical role delivering essential healthcare and more than 32,000 Covid vaccinations to remote and vulnerable communities during the pandemic.

“Since then, the RFDS has continued to deliver high quality care to rural and remote NSW communities, whilst navigating increasingly difficult economic conditions and rising costs,” Mr Sam said.

The $4m donation in Queensland will contribute to the fit-out of a new Beechcraft King Air 360 aircraft and operations at its Brisbane base which is about to be redeveloped.

RFDS (Queensland Section) Chief Executive Officer Meredith Staib said the gift would continue to nurture quality patient care and help quicken response times.