RFDS Base Port Hedland – Western Operations Inc. Wednesday 12th July 2006 and Thursday 13th July 2006 (clinic flight) (Reported by Dr Hans-Ullrich Henschel) The town Port Hedland have less attractive things to see. It´s always hot there and in the whole area is everywhere to find the red dust. This is the reason, why Port Hedland is only a short stop for tourists who want´s to visit the national parks in the Pilbara-Region. This area is a part from Western-Australia extend from the North West Cape to the Kimberleys. Most part of this area is barren, similar desert, with some termites nest and less population – “Spinifex-Country”. The vision “Mantle of Safety” from Referent Dr John Flynn came true because of the opening Port Hedland RFDS base in 1935. One of the first day, the service flew to Warrawagine-Station which is 240 km far away to help an Aboriginal stockman. There are records, that the plain landed directly in front of the house. The people from Warrawagine saw Dr. Alan Vickers with his white clothes and he looked like a daisy.

Photo: The old RFDS Base in Port Hedland from 1935, today the Mulba Radio station

The RFDS Base Port Hedland removed in 1999. Today, it´s placed at International Airport at Waldron Road. Dr Hans-Ullrich Henschel, who is the president from flydoc australia e.v. (Inc.), visited the base on 12th July 2006. The new base is very modern. The School of the Air located in the same building. There where school-holidays while Dr Henschel visited the base.

Photo: RFDS Base Port Hedland Base Administrator Lis Kilmartin welcomed friendly all visitors. She explained the base and we could see the offices from the doctors, flight nurses and pilots. There where one exhibition about the history and you can see a video about the work from the RFDS today.

Photo: Base Administrator Lis Kilmartin talking to Dr Henschel Flight Nurse Gabriele West showed Dr Henschel a lot of rooms, offices, the emergency-room, the room with all equipments and the store-room.

In another room stud a modern incubator-machine for the transport of new born babies and premature babies. Dr Henschel was very interested because he is a paediatrician in Germany, a doctor for children. There where two aeroplanes at the base, one “Beechcraft KingAir B200” and one “Pilatus PC 12”. The crew are three doctors, five flight nurses and five pilots.

Photo: A Beechcraft King Air B200 in the hangar of the RFDS Port Hedland Base While Dr Henschel visited the base, medical officer Dr Matthias Weinig worked. At this time it was very busy and Dr Henschel could see a lot of the work there. It was very interesting for Dr Henschel to see, how medicine from medical chest would prescribed and a fourteen month old child became a fly to Derby because of a sinusitis. A lot of operations are interhospital transfer flights. The whole north and north-west from Western Australia had to less hospitals. All special patients came in special hospitals to Perth (Jandakot). It would be a great thing to have a special hospital in Broome, too, but the realisation will be a hard thing.

This are one of the reason, why aeroplanes where all the time on the way. Fly patient to Perth is the main work of the Base. The Base thought about a new faster aeroplane but such a jet cost to much. Probably it will be a dream to have such a jet, unfortunately because of to less donats, too. Another problem are patients with mentally disturbed problems. Often must policeman stay on flights with this kind of people. Perth has a psychotherapeutic hospital only. A hospital in Broome would solve this problem, too. Dr Weinig showed Dr Henschel medical equipment from the factory Draeger from Germany. The equipment haven´t the newest standard, but there are a lot of hope with enough donation to buy new technology medicine.

Photo: Senior Medical Officer Dr Matthias Weinig talking with Dr Henschel In the conference room he explained the work from his association flydoc australia e.v. (Inc.). The homepage www.flydoc-australia.de already known. The base-staff are thankful for that help and surprised what the association did and still do.

Dr Henschel hand over 1,000.- AUS$ as donation for the Base. That happened in the hangar in front of a Beechcraft KingAir B200. Dr Weinig was very thankful and spoke in German to all member and donor a massage of greeting. Lis Kilmartin gave Dr Henschel the receipt for a donation to charity.

Photo: Hand over Donation to RFDS Base in Port Hedland

Photo: Receipt from RFDS Base Port Hedland with 1.000,- AUS$

The picture shows the 18 years old Beechcraft KingAir B200. Maybe the donation from Germany will help to buy a new aeroplane in the close future when arriving enough donations. The RFDS plans have to fly long distances. Often more and longer distance, as the manufacturer´s details recommend, but the RFDS have great worker, who look after the planes. That is very important, because the state is very big and especially this base have to fly very long distances. For example the distance from Derby to Jandakot is 2250 km. Dr Henschel got the chance to fly a clinic flight to Marble Bar on the next day. Marble Bar is the oldest clinic. All information about that clinic flight you can read in a separate report.

Photo: Hans Henschel in front of the Marble bar Nursing Post, where the clinics take place

[Translated by Monika Spengler, Steinfurt / Germany]