MOUNT ISA Royal Flying Doctor Service Local Hero winner Pam Forster says her award has not yet “sunk in”.
Ms Forster, the owner of the Urandangi Bush Resort, was named winner of the Mount Isa region Local Hero award at a ceremony at the RFDS hangar on Tuesday morning.
CEO Nino Di Marco said the Local Hero Awards were established to acknowledge outstanding individuals who tirelessly and selflessly support the work of the RFDS in their region.
According to her citation, Pam has been an outstanding supporter and advocate for the small community of Urandangi, 200km south west of Mount Isa and has been an RFDS stalwart for over nine years.
“She manages the only RFDS medical chest in the town and is the first point of call for the RFDS when an emergency is reported,” her citation read.
“Usually she is the first person that the community comes to for initial assistance in an emergency.”
The RFDS also thanked Pam for her regular support and transport for their crews to enable them to attend emergencies in the town and surrounding region, providing free lunches when needed, every fortnight for the last nine years.
“On multiple occasions when other facilities were not available, Pam has also allowed clinics to be held in her pub and was a crucial supporter in the recent clinic building renovation,” an RDFS spokesperson said.
Pam was unable to attend the ceremony in Mount Isa on Tuesday but received her award a day earlier.
“It hasn’t sunk it yet it’s so unexpected,” she told the North West Star by phone on Tuesday.
“You do it because it’s just part of everything you do around here – you can’t live in a small community and not get involved, but it’s lovely to be appreciated.
Pam was not the only one to win an award at the Mount Isa presentation.
The Spirit of John Flynn Award went to Michelle Low Mow, Manager, Adel’s Grove Camping Park for her use of first aid skills to help save the life of a patient last year who collapsed at the park.
Other Local Hero nominees were Paul Sidnell, Marker Aviation Services for keeping a 100% record of aircraft and crew availability for emergency evacuations, Avon Downs Station for holding an annual charity cricket match as an RFDS fundraiser and Mount Isa Border Ride which raises vital funds for individuals, families and charity organisations in Mount Isa including the RFDS.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
