Words: Susie Williams

Thanks to Coast Lines magazine

Oceans to Outback: A Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island tribute to saving lives

Every October, as the scent of wattle and sea salt lingers in the Fleurieu breeze, I find myself walking with purpose. It’s the time of year when I join the Oceans to Outback challenge to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. And as my footsteps trace the coastline or cut through vineyard trails, I’m not just chasing a fitness goal — I’m walking with deep gratitude in every stride.

This challenge means more to me than just numbers on a tracker. Over the years, I’ve had many family and friends assisted — and lives saved — thanks to RFDS. Participating in Oceans to Outback is my way of saying thank you. It’s a small gesture for a service that has done so much for people I care deeply about.

Living on the Fleurieu Peninsula and often crossing over to Kangaroo Island, I’ve seen how critical RFDS services are to our regional communities. In the past year alone, the Flying Doctor landed 337 times on Kangaroo Island — more than six missions each week. Patients in need of urgent care were flown from Kingscote to Adelaide for surgery or specialist treatment, often when time was running out. That makes Kingscote one of the top ten RFDS landing locations across South Australia and the Northern Territory.

These aren’t just flights — they’re life-saving interventions. Across SA and NT, the RFDS assists more than 47,000 patients each year, which works out to helping one person every ten minutes. That’s someone’s father, daughter, friend, neighbour. It could be any one of us.

And it’s not just outback cattle stations or distant desert towns that rely on this service. Emergencies happen right here too — on our winding coastal roads, on remote island farms, or in homes where there is no specialist care nearby. A sudden health crisis doesn’t wait for convenience.

The RFDS answers that call with quiet, determined urgency. Based in Adelaide, its teams of pilots, flight nurses and retrieval doctors are available around the clock, ensuring people in rural and remote communities receive the same quality of care as those in metropolitan areas.

Community support plays a major role in keeping this vital service airborne. Fleurieu Peninsula volunteers have raised $20,000 for the RFDS — a remarkable achievement that reflects the generosity and commitment of local residents. It’s the kind of fundraising that fuels medical equipment upgrades, supports staff training and helps cover the cost of missions across the region.

That same spirit fuels Oceans to Outback. Last year, more than 16,000 Australians took part in the challenge, logging over a million kilometres and raising $3.5 million for the RFDS. Some people ran marathons. Others strolled around their block or cycled scenic backroads. It’s not about speed — it’s about showing up.

This year, I’ll be moving through some of my favourite places: a coastal stretch in Victor Harbor, a crisp morning walk near Port Elliot, maybe a ride through the vines of McLaren Vale. Each kilometre will be for someone — a neighbour I never met, a child in need, or my friend whose life was saved a few years ago by RFDS, when every second counted. Every step is a tribute, a quiet thank you and a promise to keep this vital service flying.

And I invite you to walk with me, in spirit or stride. You don’t need to go far. You just need to believe in the power of community and the importance of care. You can support my challenge by donating through my RFDS fundraising page, or you can start your own journey. Every step we take together helps keep the Flying Doctor flying.

Because from oceans to outback — and everywhere in between — every step counts.

👉 Donate HERE

Photo credit: RFDS