Hawks and Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania soar together in 2020

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 4 February 2020

Hawthorn Football Club and Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania will come together in 2020 to celebrate and honour the charity’s 60 years of service to the state.

Marking the 60th anniversary since RFDS first landed in Tasmania, Hawthorn will partner with the organisation to recognise the milestone across each of its four home games in Launceston.

The partnership took off earlier in the week when Hawthorn and RFDS Tasmania hosted a trivia night fundraiser at UTAS Stadium in support of the charity. Guests were joined by a group of Hawthorn players as they put their knowledge to the test in a bid to raise vital funds for RFDS Tasmania.

Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves welcomed the partnership by highlighting both parties’ shared vision towards better health outcomes across Tasmania.

“Hawthorn is proud to join forces with RFDS Tasmania who continually dedicates its time and resources to improve the wellbeing of all Tasmanians”, said Reeves.

“The work of RFDS Tasmania supports Hawthorn’s aim of achieving a holistic approach to improving long-term health outcomes across the state.

“We look forward to helping celebrate Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania’s incredible work at our Launceston home games and beyond.”

Working in conjunction with Ambulance Tasmania, RFDS Tasmania play a crucial role by providing emergency trauma evacuations and inter-hospital transfers through their fixed-wing air ambulance.

More than 1200 plane flights are provided each year, travelling between airfields on King, Flinders and Cape Barren Islands, alongside Queenstown, Wynyard, Burnie, Devonport, Smithton, St Helens, Launceston, Hobart and Melbourne.

Beyond flying, RFDS Tasmania carries out a range of ground services including mental and physical health programs delivered to school students and communities, annual scholarships provided to medical, dental and nursing students, as well as their dental outreach program delivered day-to-day.

RFDS Tasmania CEO John Kirwan expressed that the partnership is an effective way to communicate to Tasmanians in remote and rural communities that as a health care service, the RFDS has been with them for the past 60 years and will continue to care for its communities long into the future.

“We’re grateful for the funding and donations that we receive to allow us to fight chronic disease and provide free mental, physical and dental health care where it’s needed most,” said Kirwan.

“Sport is an important part of people’s lives and if they’re too far away to get to a footy game, they can watch it on television or tune in on the radio.

“Staying healthy is important to both organisations and RFDS Tasmania provides outreach and telehealth services to those who struggle to reach metropolitan cities.

“We look forward to engaging and educating everyone watching the Hawks play in Launceston.”

Royal Flying Doctor Service will feature at all Hawthorn home games in Launceston across the 2020 season.

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© RELEASED FOR HAWTHORN FOOTBALL CLUB 2020