John McVeigh (Groom, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Saturday night this past weekend the Toowoomba community gathered together to support a significant fundraiser for LifeFlight, the essential RACQ aeromedical service that services the Toowoomba, Darling Downs and south-west Queensland regions. Over 500 people were in attendance at the fundraiser on Saturday night, filling the Empire Theatre. Toowoomba heard of LifeFlight's proud history and recent activities, and, more particularly, the need for funding going forward. In the last financial year Toowoomba crews flew 643 missions, making our helicopter base in Toowoomba the busiest in Queensland.

The community spirit on Saturday night was clear. We raised more than $330,000 at the one event to support the essential activities of LifeFlight. It's been a great honour of mine to represent the federal government in supporting LifeFlight and the new helicopter base in Toowoomba, and, most particularly, supporting local philanthropist and legend Clive Berghofer AM OAM, who has yet again put his own money up—some millions of dollars—to support the activities of LifeFlight and so many activities across other organisations supporting our community.