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Luigina was by Fred’s side every step of the way as he prepared for the Mount Gambier to Adelaide trek. Fred would walk to Port MacDonnell and Millicent as training for the experience, and then Luigina would join him as the couple doorknocked for donations.

“After what happened with my auntie, Fred just thought there had to be something he could do to raise money for the RFDS,” Luigina said. “He got in touch with Robert Ryan and that’s where the idea of the walk came. He had never done anything like that before but he was determined to help.”

The couple were overwhelmed by the generosity of the South East community and as Fred set off on his 16 day journey, he had raised an astonishing $23,000 – a figure matched by the State Government in the wake of the remarkable solo effort.

The Bresolin family’s association with the RFDS did not stop with Fred’s charity feat – he ended up becoming a RFDS patient, as did Luigina’s mother. The charity walk also sparked the establishment of the Mount Gambier RFDS Support Group, with both Fred and Luigina spending time on the committee, with Luigina doing a stint as treasurer.

The couple also was prominent in the Association of Italian and Australian Pensioners and Elderly, with Fred serving as president, and it is through that association that a donation was made to the RFDS last week.

A $2000 cheque was passed on to the Mount Gambier RFDS Support Group in memory of Fred and his long standing and passionate support of the life saving service and they went towards the fundraising efforts for the Mount Gambier RFDS Patient Transfer Facility.

Karen Petersen is another long time RFDS supporter, who also has played her part in fundraising for the new facility.

For 13 consecutive years Karen Petersen hosted a Girls Night In event to raise money for the Cancer Council where more than 30 of her closest friends and family gathered at her home for an afternoon of fun and fundraising, from fashion parades to auctions, and all against the backdrop of food, wine and a lot of laughs, but COVID made the 2020 event impossible to host.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Karen still wanted to raise money in 2020, and so she set up an online auction, courtesy of the generosity of friends, family and local business.

“Once I had all the donated items we set up the online auction and it was a case of let the bidding wars begin,” Karen said.

The end result was a $1500 cheque being handed over the Royal Flying Doctor Service Mount Gambier Support Group after Karen lost her father Murray Burley last year – that donation was also part of the patient transfer facility funding.

“Dad used the RFDS three times and I just know it is so important that Mount Gambier has this service,” she said. “Everyone’s family needs it, as we all get older there is always going to be someone in your life who needs to go to Adelaide for treatment.”

Her husband John also had to utilise the service in 2009 and Karen accompanied him in the RFDS plane so she’s had a front row seat to just how the service operates and how critical it is.

“We just have to make sure it is always available in Mount Gambier,” she said.

RFDS Mount Gambier Support Group president Bill Russon was more than happy to accept the generous donation.

“This is how we receive a lot of donations, from small groups, families or individuals that have been touched by the RFDS and want to give back,” he said. “We have had huge support for the Patient Transfer facility and it has been a mixture of large corporate donations to the smaller donations from people with a personal story to share.”

CELEBRATGING THE OFFICIAL OPENING: (Above left) Mount gambier RFDS Support Group president Bill Russon with RFDS Central Operations Chairman Peter de Cure and RFDS Central Operations Chief Executive Tony Vaughan for the cake cutting duties.

FUNDRAISING SUPPORT: (Above right) Fred Bresolin walking into Millicent while on his 1988 RFDS fundraising walk.

THE RFDS IN THE SOUTH EAST OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS:

• airlifted someone from this facility on 308 of the 365 days; • conducted a total of 586 flights to this aerodrome, and; • in partnership with SA Ambulance and SAAS MedSTAR – provided the finest care to 740 local patients (including 100 critical/life-threatening cases)

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