A Jericho nurse’s complete dedication to her community has seen her awarded the 2017 RFDS Local Hero Award for the Longreach region.
Leslie Delandell, resident nurse at the Jericho Medical Centre, was praised for her selflessness and willingness to get in and help members of her community at the drop of a hat, whether that be preparing someone for a Royal Flying Doctor Service flight, or even helping someone’s sick pet.
She was honoured at a morning tea in Longreach on Wednesday, the anniversary of the beginning of the RFDS in Australia.
Also honoured were nominees Terry Grimison from Yaraka, who donates the proceeds of sunset tours of Mt Slocombe, and the Longreach Airport, which donates its landing fees for RFDS planes and offers free parking space for the group’s dental van.
RFDS Queensland CEO, Nino Di Marco, said the RFDS Local Hero Awards, supported by Ergon Energy Retail, were established in 2016 to thank and acknowledge those outstanding individuals who tirelessly and selflessly support the work of the aeromedical retrieval service in their region.
“It is heart-warming to have received Local Hero nominations from around the state, ranging from outback pubs developing innovative and fun ways to help raise funds for the RFDS, to an 80-year-old lady who still picks up and drives our primary health care team to their remote clinics, to a brave woman who managed to call for help following a traumatic car crash, before freeing her boyfriend from the wreckage.
“On behalf of all of us at the RFDS here in Queensland we would like to congratulate and thank all Local Hero nominees across Queensland who work behind the scenes to support the work of the Flying Doctor teams.”
Ergon Retail Executive General Manager Cheryl Hopkins said Ergon was proud to be a long-term partner of the RFDS Queensland and sponsor of the RFDS Local Hero awards.
“The RFDS is an integral part of regional Queensland, providing lifesaving services. However, like any essential service, they couldn’t do it without the support of many individuals,” Cheryl said.
“Every community has those people who go above and beyond to make a difference and we would like to join the RFDS in acknowledging and thanking these unsung heroes.”
The RFDS Local Hero awards are held at each of the Royal Flying Doctor Service bases around the state. These include Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Charleville, Longreach, Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Roma and Townsville.
For more information visit https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/qld/localhero/
