Outback Air Race 2022: Lake Grace couple take to the skies to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service

A Lake Grace couple are taking part in a 15-day time trial flight across outback Australia to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Steve and Genni Curtin made their way from the southern Wheatbelt to the Northern Territory where they took off in their four-seater plane last week for the start of the Outback Air Race 2022. The triennial fundraising event takes about 100 pilots and participants on a 15-day time trial from Darwin to Coffs Harbour to raise funds and awareness for the RFDS. The husband and wife team, running under the name Lake Grace Airlines, had raised more than $11,500 as of Tuesday. The overall competition has reeled in more than $570,000, already surpassing its fundraising goal. Mr Curtin, who is also a volunteer ambulance officer, said the flight was a chance to raise money for a great cause while seeing the country from above. “I like flying and I like a challenge but it was an opportunity to do a trip around Australia because the route goes from Darwin to Coffs Harbour,” he said. “I think for country people it’s a really worthwhile fundraising for the RFDS. But a lot of the people who are raising money don’t even live in areas services by the RFDS, those people still see the importance of the service.” Ms Curtin said she was the navigator, while her husband was the pilot. Their plane is mainly used for work-related travel through Mr Curtin’s job with ConsultAg, but the couple were encouraged to join the fundraiser of the first time this year. “When we first applied you had to put in a name so I wrote Lake Grace Airlines thinking we could change it later but it stuck and began to grow on us,” Mr Curtin said. “It was really just for a bit of fun, now we joke we have Lake Grace Airlines and Lake Grace International Airport. “Although Lake Grace is really quite scenic with all the lakes, so if we ever did have a little airline business it would be a good thing to have.” Mr Curtin said they had been blown away by the generosity of people donating to the cause. “The fundraising hasn’t been hard because so many people are aware of the service and are so generous towards the organisation. We’ve just been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends, family, locals, farming clients, colleagues and even people we don’t even know. “Our kids were the first ones to donate when we set up the page.” On Thursday, the Curtins will be leaving Roma in rural Queensland and setting out for Goondiwindi, before making their way to Coffs Harbour for the finale dinner on September 11. To donate, visit bit.ly/ 3RBHGeW.