The mission descriptions from Angel Flight was:
SUBSEQUENT TRIP REQUEST: (13th & 14th Angel flights) This lady from Hervey Bay has recently had a right hip removal and replacement with a prosthesis.The lady in question was Beverly, whom I had had the pleasure of conveying from the Gold Coast to Hervey Bay after her original operation an on Mission 897 and a month later from Hervey Bay to the Gold Coast and back on Mission 1016She has a follow up appointments with the Vascular Surgeon for review of her legs.
I was also asked by Kate Lambkin to collect some money that had been donated by the employees of Koppers Wood Products
The weather was a complete contrast to my previous mission - only a smattering of cumulus cloud at about 4,000' to 5,000'. I quickly climbed
though this at 945 on the way north, maintaining visual separation with various jets inbound to Brisbane along the way.
I arrived a little early at Hervey Bay to find Beverly resting on the verandah of the aero club and Steven Ryan and two of his mates from Koppers Wood Products pacing outside the security gate.
Koppers, being aware that they had a slight dust problem at their work site, had given their workers a Dust and Disability allowance, which has been accruing for some time. Management asked them what they wanted to do with these funds, and on hearing that they wanted to donate them to Angel Flight, the company matched the employees dollar for dollar.
Beverly, really the passenger, was roped in to take the picture showing me accepting a cheque for $4,300, made out to Angel Flight (alas, it was not made out to me!), and handing over a certificate of appreciation as well as an Angel Bear or two. Left to right are: Michael Penrose, yours truly, Richard Bennett and Steven Ryan. Thanks a lot guys, your efforts are really appreciated!
I was also given a baseball cap and polo shirt with the Kopper logo - again, thanks a lot!
Peter Driver's step ladder again came in handy as I helped Beverly up the wing and eased her into the back seat. Relaxing behind her groovy sunshades and again
supplying me with a steady stream of jelly snakes, Beverly was the model passenger.
We were airborne a little early, leaving at 1055 instead of the planned 1130 and tracked south toward Maleny, thence direct to Mt Coot' tha and Archerfield.
With an early arrival for a change I was worried that we'd have to have Beverly spend some time pacing around Archerfield. But Earth Angel Denise Robertson was onto me and immediately took Beverly into her care, only briefly showing some outrage when I jokingly farewelled Beverly by telling her that the dangerous part of her journey was only just beginning.
On the way to the office, I stopped off at Angel Flight to drop of the cheque.