Santas of the north-west

Mount Isa-based Flying Padre and Outback Service's Simon and Natalie Steele have had their work cut out for them since arriving in the city more than five years ago, assisting with emergency food and medical drops after Cyclone Yasi ripped through large parts of north Queensland, doing the same when the Gulf was flooding in 2009, and in the aftermath of the 2012 bushfires around Georgetown.

Now it's the scourge of drought that is claiming their attention.

"I'm basically a rural chaplain. I do a bit of everything," Simon said recently as he plotted the course for his Robinson R66 helicopter journey out to three families preparing for a quiet Christmas at home in the state's far west.

In the back are three specially wrapped gifts for the Holmes children at Linda Downs, sourced from the generosity of people taking part in the Kmart Wishing Tree appeal.

Simon's patch is an 800,000 square kilometre slice of Queensland that stretches from the Gulf towns of Burketown, Karumba and Normanton, down to Boulia and Bedourie and east to Croydon and Forsayth.

As well as the regular visits dropping in to help with fencing or whatever needs doing, the padres visit schools and join in community Christmas parties.

"I've been trying to visit with toys before everything shuts down," Simon said.

Urandangie publican Pam Forster says the role is vital in the tough times people are experiencing.

"I feel for the ones I know, especially the women," she said.

"They get very depressed. There's no let-up and no other support. Simon is the only one they've got."

Pam thought his presence would be good for men on stations as well, who needed the occasional male face to talk with.

It was a sentiment echoed by Ellen and David Miller at Thorner station, east of Urandangie, approached by air across thousands of hectares of parched countryside.

"Simon and Natalie are just nice people to talk to," Ellen said.

"I'm not a religious person, but he doesn't shove that at me.

"They and Aussie Helpers have been so helpful in the last month, with hay and food packages."

Simon's interest in flying began with a gliding club in NSW 25 years ago, moving on to a private fixed-wing licence, then commercial helicopter qualifications 10 years ago.

It was this that brought him to the attention of his pastor at Tweed Heads, where he and Natalie were working at the time.

"He said it was hard to fill the Flying Padre position at Mount Isa because people didn't want to go out there," Simon explained.

"People just miss out on so many opportunities. This is what Australia is really about.

"Everything is so regulated in urban areas - out here you've got more freedom."

The Outback Flying Service at Mount Isa swapped its Cessna for a helicopter in 2010, partly to overcome insurance issues with airstrips and partly to give greater accessibility in times of need, such as checking paddocks in floods or assisting with medical emergencies.

It gives Simon many opportunities to work alongside the people he ministers to and to see how political decisions affect lives in remote Australia.

"People are definitely finding it harder," he said.

"I don't think there's the support for hard work anymore. People are paying their taxes and working a lot harder than people do in the cities."

He acknowledged that he had to put politics aside and just be there for people.

For Jonathan, Paul and Hadassah Holmes at Linda Downs, it was like a special visit from Santa in a helicopter instead of a sleigh, as they watched Simon circle their remote homestead beside the Georgina River.

As the rotors stopped beating, Simon and his children Isabel and Joel brought out the colourful presents for the waiting group, along with the Christmas message that people are there for them in tough times.