Thrifty help on the ground for the Flying Doctor

Thanks to a new community partnership by Thrifty Car & Truck Rental, essential health care services delivered by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) of Western Australia have been given help on the ground – in the form of a brand-new 4WD.

Thrifty WA’s Owner and Managing Director, Keith Bedell, handed over the keys to the vehicle at the RFDS Jandakot base to the charity’s General Manager Strategy & Performance, Craig Spencer. The multipurpose vehicle – a Mitsubishi Triton GLS 4WD Dual Cab, with canopy – is fitted out with modern TJM accessories and features official RFDS branding, like its aircraft.

Mr Spencer said Thrifty’s support would help the RFDS in delivering an important ‘mantle of safety’ across more than 2.5 million square kilometres of the State.

The new partnership also provides the RFDS with access to free vehicle rental across Thrifty’s broad network of locations in WA. The Thrifty vehicles will be used by RFDS Primary Health Care clinicians when driving to reach their patients.

“Our clinicians travel by road and air to remote and isolated communities to offer free health checks, treatment and essential dental services,” Mr Spencer said. “In 2018/19, we helped 15,822 patients via our mobile primary health care clinics. We will now have access to Thrifty vehicles to help with this important work, which we are grateful for.”

“Many residents in remote and isolated communities suffer from chronic health conditions, which could be left untreated due to geographical barriers and socio-economic status, without the work of the RFDS.”

In addition, the new 4WD will be used by the RFDS at fundraising and community events, including regional field days, the Perth Royal Show, the Gibb Challenge and the Outback Air Race. The vehicle’s versatility will also enable the transportation of the RFDS PC-12 model turboprop aircraft and training simulator, for display at community events in metropolitan and regional areas.

Mr Bedell, who has a personal passion for flying, said the new partnership with RFDS was a natural fit for Thrifty WA, given its strong connection with the people, businesses and communities of regional WA.

“Being a state-wide operation and with several of our regional branches located remotely, we greatly value the important work the RFDS does in the community. We have had to call on their services over the years,” Mr Bedell said. 

“We are pleased to be able to join forces with the RFDS and lend our support to their teams travelling by road, adding to the amazing work they do up in the air.”