The Red Centre – Part 6

We take a turn about the town, and saw some interesting sites, including this mural at the back of Coles Supermarket.

Coles Mural

And then for our last stop we climbed atop Anzac Hill for a panoramic view of the Alice.

Anzac Hill

Anzac Hill

The MacDonnell Ranges are never far away and look as spectacular as ever. Pity that this visit is so short.

Anzac Hill

We could even see the Ghan from the top. Look closely, and you can see that it is ridiculously long.

Anzac Hill

One last view of the Territory State flag.

Anzac Hill

And its state flora, the Sturt Desert Rose.

Anzac Hill

The Red Centre – Part 5

Next, we visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum. The Flying Doctors (RFDS for short), has been servicing the medical needs of remote Australia since 1928, and though we now live in a technological age, their services are more needed than ever.

RFDS Museum

The Alice Springs base began in 1939, and currently services an area of 1.25 square kilometres – that’s more than the size of South Africa or more than five times the size of the UK. It’s a large area, so they need a good, modern fleet of planes.

RFDS Museum

These planes host a medical team as well as vital medical equipment that enables patients to be treated and transported, no matter their condition.

RFDS Museum

The service is so essential to Aussies in these parts that there always seems to be a fundraiser for the RFDS in many outback towns I’ve visited. Coastal Aussies might only know of the service from TV, but perhaps it’s one that should be better supported by them, because you never know when you might need a flying doctor, particularly if you’re planning on travelling the Outback.