Westpac 15th Anniversary Charity Chopper Bike Ride - Queenstown to Invercargill (235kms)

In 2018, while living in remote Newman, WA—1,350 km from Perth—our three‑year‑old daughter began constantly complaining of tummy pain. After multiple visits, every doctor at the local clinic diagnosed her with constipation, yet she still wasn’t herself. By the fifth or sixth visit, my wife Lisa grew increasingly worried. I encouraged her to go back and request a referral to Perth Children’s Hospital.

This time, a doctor noticed something unusual. An X‑ray showed our daughter’s heart appeared abnormally large. The Royal Flying Doctor Service immediately arranged a flight to Perth. On arrival, an ambulance rushed her to the Children’s Hospital, where tests revealed pericardial effusion—a dangerous buildup of fluid around the heart. Instead of a few tablespoons, she had nearly 500 ml, compressing her heart.

That night, doctors drained the fluid, and almost instantly she was back to her normal, energetic self. The next day, the surgeon told us that if she had arrived even 12hrs later, she likely wouldn’t have survived.

Two lessons stayed with me: trust a mother’s intuition, and never underestimate the importance of emergency services like the Royal Flying Doctor Service / Westpac Chopper Service. Without them, we would not have reached Perth in time. This is why I support this charity—and why you should too. One flight can truly mean the difference between life and death.