RFDS Museum (Royal Flying Doctors Service)
THE BASE CAFE: We visited the museum mid afternoon, we had not had lunch so we went into the cafe where you can dine under the original veranda, in the old dining room or venture out to the new informal garden setting. We enjoyed the food we have been back several times. If you like milkshakes, they have the best there, Drew had a Mocca and he said it was one of the best he has had, we would like to highly recommend the cafe.
After having our fill with the beautiful food we went into the RFDS Museum, this cost us $11 each with seniors cards. We had a 5 minute lecture about the planes where they come from and showed a map which updates every 90 minutes, shows where the planes are at the moment.
We then were ushered into the theatrette and watched a hologram of the history of the RFDS. Both Drew and I found this interesting and factual. This lasted 20 minutes, once we left the theatrette we were ushered into the museum which showed the old treddle radio which was the only way to communicate with the people on outback stations.
This is an essential service to those people living in the outback. The first plane flew out of Cloncurry Queensland.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS, informally known as The Flying Doctor) is one of the largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations in the world. It provides emergency and primary health care services for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia. It is a not-for-profit organisation which provides health care to people who cannot access a hospital or general practice due to the vast distances of the Outback.
On Friday 15th September we (Pauline & Ray, Christine & John) in one car and Ted & Robyn our tail end Charlie's, with the air in the tyres let down to 25psi we headed out around 5.10pm.
Very dusty for the two cars behind us, until we started to climb up the hill which is very rocky & to be taken quite slowly. The first hill we came to was short but steep, so we took it one at a time with each car being called up when the next one was on the top. This happened several times until Drew chose a spot where we could actually see Pine Gap and the West McDonell ranges.
Everyone set up their chairs, eats (cheese, biscuits, cold meats & drinks) none of the drivers drank, but Christine and myself did not drink as well. After a ton of photos were taken the sun set quite quickly. Robyn & Ted took their little dog Pip up with them and he thought he was in paradise lots of smells from different wildlife. As the sun went down we saw the lights come on at Pine Gap.
Look at them the three meerecats.
The twinkle lights at Pine Gap.
