Pregnancy is a deeply personal and life-changing chapter.
There’s joy as parents look ahead to a new future and the arrival of their baby, but there’s also anxiety. In just a few months, there’s rapid growth and development, and it isn’t always a smooth journey.
Serious issues can develop that put two lives at risk.
That’s why there are regular medical check-ups that can catch any issues early and pave the way to a safe birth.
Expectant mothers in rural, regional and remote Queensland, who live hundreds of kilometres from a doctor or hospital, are counting on the Flying Doctor.
Your kind gift today will ensure RFDS aeromedical crews can fly into small communities, fully equipped to provide the finest antenatal care.
Andrea grew up in Gympie, but always dreamed of working with animals.
Today, she manages 30,000 head of cattle across 10 remote stations in western Queensland with her husband, Bob.
Andrea and Bob love their home on Retreat Station—a 14-hour drive northwest of Brisbane.
“We love living here. It’s far more than a job—it’s a way of life. We enjoy rearing cattle and producing food for Australians.”
She’s always felt safe on the station because there’s an RFDS medical chest and the Flying Doctor is only a call away in an emergency.
But life changed when the time came to start a family.
Andrea’s nearest GP is in Longreach—three hours by road. Just one antenatal check-up would keep her off the station and away from her work with the cattle for much of the day.
An expectant mother and her baby need expert antenatal care, regardless of where they call home. The Flying Doctor is here to support women like Andrea as they raise the next generation of Queenslanders.
Instead of travelling all day for each check-up, Andrea found she could attend one of the clinics in the area.
“There’s a clinic every fortnight at Jundah—and that’s only 45 minutes away.”
Better still, by travelling in other directions, there were two other clinics she could access—Windorah (80km) and Yaraka (90km).
“Thanks to the Flying Doctor, I could get to all my check-ups during my pregnancy and get home to help muster the cattle,” explains Andrea.
Andrea gave birth to Michael in 2021, and then to Joe in 2024. For Andrea, being able to count on the Flying Doctor makes all the difference.
“I wouldn’t feel safe living here without them.”
Andrea grew up in Gympie, but always dreamed of working with animals.
Today, she manages 30,000 head of cattle across 10 remote stations in western Queensland with her husband, Bob.
Andrea and Bob love their home on Retreat Station—a 14-hour drive northwest of Brisbane.
“We love living here. It’s far more than a job—it’s a way of life. We enjoy rearing cattle and producing food for Australians.”
She’s always felt safe on the station because there’s an RFDS medical chest and the Flying Doctor is only a call away in an emergency.
But life changed when the time came to start a family.
Andrea’s nearest GP is in Longreach—three hours by road. Just one antenatal check-up would keep her off the station and away from her work with the cattle for much of the day.
An expectant mother and her baby need expert antenatal care, regardless of where they call home. The Flying Doctor is here to support women like Andrea as they raise the next generation of Queenslanders.
Instead of travelling all day for each check-up, Andrea found she could attend one of the clinics in the area.
“There’s a clinic every fortnight at Jundah—and that’s only 45 minutes away.”
Better still, by travelling in other directions, there were two other clinics she could access—Windorah (80km) and Yaraka (90km).
“Thanks to the Flying Doctor, I could get to all my check-ups during my pregnancy and get home to help muster the cattle,” explains Andrea.
Andrea gave birth to Michael in 2021, and then to Joe in 2024. For Andrea, being able to count on the Flying Doctor makes all the difference.
“I wouldn’t feel safe living here without them.”The Impact You’ll Make
Please help women like Andrea raise the next generation of Queenslanders by ensuring RFDS aeromedical crews can fly out to remote communities with essentials.
