Country racing propels the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Racing Queensland’s Country Cups Challenge is flying high again in 2023, with the continued support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section).

Following last year’s success, the Country Cups Challenge is again serving as an important fundraising initiative for the RFDS which has been saving lives in rural and remote Queensland for more than 95 years.

With the Country Cups Challenge currently in the final stages of qualifying, the 16 qualifiers across the state have served as fundraising opportunities, with clubs supporting the RFDS through donation tins, raffles, and other raceday related activities.

Racing Minister Grace Grace said she was proud to see Queensland racing again help raise funds for the important cause.

“This partnership continues to go from strength-to-strength, with so many of our 124 racing clubs across Queensland located in regional and remote areas,” Ms Grace said.

“Last year, the Palaszczuk Government announced a ten-year deal for an additional $334 million in funding for the RFDS to assist in their work providing medical treatment to rural and regional Queenslanders, and we are proud to continue that association.

“Country racing clubs are the lifeblood of the sport, supporting good jobs and making vital economic contributions to our regional communities.

“I look forward to seeing the benefits that come from the Country Cups Challenge and the contribution it has to this iconic organisation.”

The finale of the flagship summer racing series will be held at Doomben on December 2, with $200,000 in prize money up for grabs.

There will also be a prize pool of $105,000 on offer in the Country Stampede Final, which runs in conjunction with the Country Cups Challenge.

With more than 80% of the state’s 49,786 racing participants located in regional communities, RQ CEO Jason Scott said the partnership would continue to strengthen RQ’s existing ties to the RFDS whilst further supporting the country racing industry.

“Racing Queensland is committed to championing great racing and events which connect Queensland communities,” Mr Scott said.

“Across the Sunshine State, there are 85 towns each year who host a race day as the biggest or second biggest event for that community’s social calendar, showcasing everything that is great about local food, fashion, and on-course entertainment.

“The Country Cups Challenge and the Royal Flying Doctor Service is a natural synergy, and one that we are proud to continue supporting in the communities we work, race and play in.”

In the last year alone, the RFDS provided more than 219 occasions of care across Queensland each day, via aeromedical retrieval and patient transfers, and primary health care services such as GP, nurse and vaccination clinics, telehealth youth, remote and regional mental health, and the RFDS mobile dental service.

This included more than 12,500 patients transferred via the RFDS aeromedical service.

Cloncurry, which was where the first ever RFDS flight took off from 95 years ago, again hosted a Country Cups Challenge qualifier as part of this year’s series on October 13.

RFDS (Queensland Section) Executive General Manager Fundraising and Philanthropy Katherine Ash said the support of RQ remains an important part of the organisation’s mission to provide the finest care to the furthest corner.

“The Country Cups Challenge takes place in locations we serve, and monies raised goes back to supporting these communities to achieve improved health outcomes,” Ms Ash said.

“This year’s series has been successful in raising not just funds, but vital awareness around the breadth of services offered by the RFDS (Queensland Section) and we’re rapt to be part of such an exciting finale at Doomben.”

In Queensland, the RFDS provides healthcare services over an area of 1.73 million square kilometres.

They operate a fleet of 22 aeromedical aircraft from nine strategically located bases across the State – Cairns, Townsville, Mount Isa, Charleville, Longreach, Roma, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, and Brisbane.

Click here for more information on the Royal Flying Doctor Service.