THE CBH Group is proud to announce it will support the Western Australian Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS), in its biggest partnership yet under the CBH Community Investment Program.
The sponsorship will provide $300,000 to the RFDS to continue its extensive Airstrip Survey and Evaluation Program.
The partnership involves an annual $100,000 investment for the next three years and enables the RFDS to continue to survey and evaluate more than 700 airstrips throughout WA.
CBH Group CEO Dr Andy Crane said the sponsorship is a major investment in the safety of rural communities.
"At CBH, safety comes first in everything we do," he said. "Helping the RFDS to safely deliver aeromedical and primary health care services throughout rural and remote WA was such an easy decision for us because it was an obvious fit with our own values.
"Many grain growers and families in rural WA have used the RFDS and we are proud that CBH can support such a vital community service."
In the 2012-13 financial year, the RFDS transported 9092 patients, with more than 30,000 people attending their clinics, held in regional and remote WA.
The RFDS services 98 per cent of the State, with its 15 aircraft, providing vital medical and transport services.
RFDS WA CEO Grahame Marshall said he was pleased CBH Group had chosen to partner with the RFDS.
"In an emergency it's critical that we can get to a patient as quickly as possible and this can require our aircraft accessing gravel and dirt airstrips in remote areas," Mr Marshall said.
"It's imperative that we maintain a comprehensive register of airstrips and know what condition they are in and this sponsorship will allow that to happen.
"Both the RFDS and the CBH Group share the same commitment to people in rural and remote WA, and we look forward to enjoying a long partnership with them."
