Anyone who's been outback knows the critical role the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) plays in maintaining the bush communities. Without the RFDS connecting bush dwellers to life-sustaining medical services, most of them, if not all, would have to abandon the bush for the regional centres.
The people understand that, but also know that it's only public generosity that keeps the RFDS alive and them in their homes. Over the years they have invented many quirky and adventurous ways of raising money; see the main bar of any outback pub.
One of the quirkiest comes from intelligent use of a golden leg.
Don't worry; no-one has been painted. The Golden Leg comes from a store mannequin and is wielded like a claymore as a weapon of fund raising during the The Lottery Office Outback Air Race (OAR).
The OAR has been run on and off for several years now, and in 2022 will run from Darwin to Coffs Harbour; 38 planes and 90 participants in a time trial that this year aims to raise $600,000 for the RDS. That's where the Golden Leg comes into the equation.
The winners of each leg of the race are awarded the Golden Leg, which is kept until another team takes the chocolates at a subsequent leg. Who holds the Leg is charged with filling it up with donated money in the local town.
But danger lurks for the Leg keepers.
Around them at all times are the other teams, who plot and conspire to remove the Golden Leg from its rightful keepers. Losing the Leg results in a massive fine, which of course goes to the RFDS.
In 2018, Coffs Harbour pilots Tim Alexander and John Martindale from team Show Me the Mooney, won the OAR, making them the custodian of the leg not only for a large part of the race, but also for the four years that have elapsed since the last OAR was held. Alexander and Martindale led the 2018 race from early on and displayed great skill in their flying, but weren't so diligent in safeguarding the leg; falling foul several times to nefarious intent on behalf of the other competitors.
Not so good for their bank accounts, but great for the RFDS.
Although flying in different teams this year, Alexander and Martindale will surrender the Golden Leg at the OAR launch event in Darwin on 28 August, newly painted, fitted with new stockings and the toenails sporting bright new polish. That presumes, of course, that no-one has stolen it in the meantime.
The Lottery Office Outback Air Race starts in Darwin on 29 August and goes through Cooinda, Adel’s Grove, Karumba, Shute Harbour, Gladstone, Roma, Goondiwindi and finishing in Coffs Harbour on 10 September.
One of the 38 planes will arrive with the Golden Leg on board. Whether or not they are supposed to have it remains to be seen.
More information is on the OAR website.