Latest / Salt of the Earth / Ep 126: Royal Flying Doctor Service _ Flight nurse _ Part B

Transcript

Ep 126: Royal Flying Doctor Service _ Flight nurse _ Part B · Salt of the Earth

• 0:06
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome back to Part B of my conversation with RFDS flight nurse, Katherine Hines, in Broken Health.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: I just love rural and remote health.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_02: In part A, we heard about the incredible variety of calls the RFDS responds to.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_02: But the distances involved are something else.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_02: Burke, Tilpa, Tippabara, Wagga, Adelaide, Queensland, and beyond.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_02: It's a huge logistical operation.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_02: But Catherine describes it as an amazing team working together like a well-oiled machine.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes we have to put the stretcher on the back of the U and stretch that like it does fit in a land cruiser in a Sahara on an angle.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_02: We hear about landing on a dirt strip at one o'clock in the morning, flying over some of the most spectacular landscapes in the APAC, and doing whatever it takes to give a patient every possible chance.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: That's why I love my job.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_02: This is a vital Australian service.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_02: And this is Catherine Hines Heartbeat.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_02: What does a really successful RFDS day for mission look like?
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: So say if someone's been in Adelaide for a month or two for treatment and they finally get to go home, but they, you know, might need to come back to Broken Hill for rehab and to get them home.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes just the excitement of just coming home and you know, because I've gone through so much and just being able to help them to get there.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: I think sometimes it is can also be a really part of a good day.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, like you might transfer someone down there that's really sick and then bring someone home that's been down there for yeah, months, you know, being able to see family again and have those reunions.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes they they come out here and and just that reunion and happy to be home.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: And especially a lot of locals here like it, um, you know, they love it here.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: They're not city people, so just being able to, you know, come home, yeah, and see that joy and that excitement that they're one step closer to getting home too, it's an important part of their journey as well.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: I think generally you'll have a good day, but sometimes when you manage to do a lot in the day, like you know, we might say go to Wilkania, then we might go up to Tipperborough, then on to Adelaide and back, and you're like, oh, we've done a lot to yeah, and just how the team works too, because you know, we're not on our own, and sometimes like we get satisfaction, it's like, oh, look, we you know, we've done this so quickly and we managed to like it's just a well-oiled machine, and you're like, Oh, we've done that.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: That's actually really cool.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and being able to work with people as well.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: Or I remember when I first started, we had two shifts, so it was day and night, so you didn't really see a flight nurse, you would hand over like at that seven o'clock mark, you know, you'd come back after a day shift, and that'll still you're playing for the night shift, so you'd see them then.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: But I think it's nice now.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: We've also got an afternoon shift, so even sometimes just even helping them get ready for a job and just having that teamwork as well is really nice, or even just doing some sims, and you've always got to keep your training up as well.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: So I think there's a lot of factors that make a really good day.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: It never gets old flying over menindy lakes, and particularly at the moment where everything's so green, and even at the airport here, like you know, we see storms come through and and and the sunset's never dul, you know.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: It's yeah, there's just something even just about the landscape.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: You're like, oh, this is this is a great part of of the job, really.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_00: It's just a perk.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I never get tired of flying over Minindy Lakes.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, beautiful.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: And even like flying up, you know, I think we flew up to Tippabara a few weeks ago and it's just looking beautiful.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you get so used to it looking dry because that's what it is.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_02: But what do you admire most about people living in remote areas?
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: I think the main thing is I think their love for it.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, there's a reason why they're there, whether they're on a station and you know, caring for animals, that there's something that holds them there, but they're also a part of a broader community.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: So, like the number of times we've gone out and you know, um, people might have heard on the radio we're coming, there's people there to help us, and they'll do anything for you.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: I remember once I was on a job and it was night, and I was taking out all the packs, and we've got a lot of packs and opening them up to you, and I I forgot my torch.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: Someone's behind me with a torch.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: Didn't even ask, just yeah.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: I think I forgot my jacket one day and someone gave me a jumper to borrow because I looked cold, you know, and I think they're just willing to help anyone that's around, and uh, you know, and they're in such such an isolated area, some of them, and you know, and hard workers too, like yeah, the most lovely people.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_02: Resilient.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: I think also, you know, you can have a great conversation with them too, and because growing up with a farmer, you know how stubborn he can be.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: Come on, dad, let's go.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so um, you know, so sometimes it's like talking to my dad, and I love talking about the you know, farm stuff and what what they've got.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: And I I love it because sometimes they're like, oh, you know, what cattle you have, and they're like, Oh, the black ones.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, oh, Angus.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_00: They're like, What how do you know that?
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, Dad, you taught me well.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: You're the perfect person for this couple of things.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: So it does help a little bit, and because um I remember once I think I was talking to someone, yeah, about the price of goats because my parents used to have goats years ago as well, and the price of goat meat at the time was like$11 or something, and you know, and having a conversation about that, the doctors looking at me going, How do you know this?
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's just getting to know these people, I think is wonderful, and then it's nice if you do see them again, they're like, Oh, but yeah, and the conversations and the stories you get, and like yeah.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_02: Since doing this job, has it changed your perspective on your own life?
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think so.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's funny because I suppose it's for a long time I've always wanted I've always wanted to do this job because there's a lot you need to do to to do this job.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, it always felt like oh, it's so hard to get there.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: But it's definitely it's definitely doable.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: And I think sometimes I look back and you know, sometimes I'm like, oh, it might be nice to go back and work in a place where, oh yeah, we'll just do a CT now, or oh yeah, uh that can have an MRI, a PET scan, they can have it all right here, and you know, oh yeah, and have like 20 people when you need them just there to help you.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_00: And then I'm like, yeah, like I, you know, it is good, but I think the thing is people are needed out here too.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: So there's plenty of people over there.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_00: So I think I don't know, I just love rural and remote health and just being able to even just it's a tiny tiny bit that we can contribute, but being able to help people out here is is the challenge.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_00: I think you're always learning and you're always thinking, you know, what else can you do?
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: And when you're told that okay, you've got this job, you know, the first thing is like, okay, what can possibly happen?
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: What do I need to be aware of?
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: What do I need to do?
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: And oh, where are you going this time?
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, so all those kind of things.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: So I think it it does.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_00: I remember probably a couple of months ago now, it's like I think you always have these thoughts at two o'clock in the morning, you know, when you're like, oh, I really want to go to sleep, like and I'm like sit in Adelaide waiting for an ambulance, and I'm like, oh why am I doing this?
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: Why am I still doing shift work?
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_00: Like, why am I and then I'm like, yeah, I wouldn't have it any other way.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: And I remember meeting other nurses over the years that have done nursing for a lot longer than I have.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: And I remember one day, yeah, one of them was like, Oh, you know, I haven't been to bed since yesterday, and this is 11 o'clock in the morning.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_00: And she's like, But I still love my job.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, Well, for you to be able to say that, like it's still, yeah, there's it's it's something about it that keeps us doing it, so yeah.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_02: And it's just such an incredible service, yeah, yeah.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: And it's um, yeah, and it's just amazing.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: And like I was very lucky this year, I um did the outback car trek.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, so it was part of the medical team.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: I think I was a nice side, like we do a very important job, but the people that are part of the trek, like raising money for them.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and that and yeah, so and they've been doing it for like over 30, 35 or something years now.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of them have been doing the trek for years and getting to know these people and their efforts have gone to fundraising.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: It was just it was an amazing experience to see that slide as well.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: Like, we're we're a team effort, and that's it.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_00: And I suppose with a charity, you know, when the support we get from the community and how the RFDS helps people in so many ways, and even some people that don't use the RFDS but feel like the work we do is so important that they need to be a part of it as well is really special, too.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_02: So I was gonna say that.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_02: I see, you know, your logo and the shirt, and I go, yeah, we would all take our hat off for you.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and the effort they put into these cars and so you enjoyed it?
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was the best time, and and just getting to know them and everyone kept healthy, so that was good.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: I think the cars were sicker than the people.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, like um that's not part of your job.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_00: But look, like I think they got by with a lot of zip tie, and I think there was one bit like we went on the spirit of Tasmania, like where did the trek start?
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: So it started, it started in Albury and finished up in Lanceston.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Where?
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_02: Over how many days?
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: Uh it was over eight days.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: So I had to drive the Troopie from here to Albury.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: You know, there's a lot to pack, and you're like, well, what are we gonna take?
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: And because you never know what's gonna happen too.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, I think I packed extra because I'm like, well, you know, if anything happens on the way to Albury, we've got to see this ambulance.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I better have some stuff.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's true.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was an incredible experience.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: So to be able to be part of it, like I never thought that was a possibility to do as well in this job.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_00: So it's amazing what other opportunities you get to be involved as well.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_00: So there's a lot of community stuff we we can be a part of as well, which is really nice.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_02: What's the hardest part of your job emotionally?
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: I think getting used to being on call, you know, sometimes you're like, okay, like it's a beautiful day, let's go.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: So I think sometimes not knowing what's gonna happen, but generally I think even when you do have hard days, I sit back and I'm like, you know what, I just love this job.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: I couldn't see myself doing anything else at the moment.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: I think um, yeah, the variety, the people that we deal with, and you know, and the places we get to see.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: So sometimes we sit in the front with the pilot, we don't do anything, but we're like, where else can you do this?
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, and fly over some amazing country, and it's incredible.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: I think sometimes like the physicality of the job, you know, is tough.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it makes me go to the gym.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, sometimes, especially when it's summer, summer can be really tough.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_00: And because, you know, out here and particularly this year, it was like humid as well, which we're not used to.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, my poor evaporative cooler wasn't happy.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, sometimes we're working and I think there was one day it was 43 degrees here, and I'm like, I don't want to go anywhere north today.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_00: Like, everyone, please like look after yourselves, like stay inside, drink water, like, and then they're like, Oh, you're going, you've got a job, and it was yeah, in a remote site, um, yeah, north, yeah, South Australia north.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, oh, here we go.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_00: And it was 47.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: I remember opening, yeah, because we've got two different types of doors on the plane.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_00: So we've got the air stairs where you walk up and down, but we've got the cargo door that um we can take the stretcher out, and so I open that, and then you could feel the heat, like I'm like, oh, I'm in an oven.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_00: And it's like, okay.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: And we we brought them back.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_02: And just on that moment though, when you do open the door, there must be a lot of joy on those people's faces when they're yeah, they're very happy.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's very nice actually.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_00: Generally, people are very happy to see it.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_00: So that's what that's a nice thing.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_02: Um, that's why 47 degrees, you're up near possibly Lake Air or somewhere like that.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: Uh no, further north.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: Further north.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and um bringing them back to Adelaide, perhaps?
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_00: For yeah, we were able to come back locally and um and then came back here, opened the big door again.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, oh, it's cooler, like mate, it's 43 degrees.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, I know, but like it was better than where we were.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: And we're like, and you know, you've got ice packs and you've got ice packs on your patient tube, and yeah, I had my little uh everyone kept calling me like a scout because I had the little um flop.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, and that that was a big game changer.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_00: So I think like dealing with the elements sometimes, you're just like, oh yeah, or if it's really windy and then your pins flown or your bags disappeared, or yeah.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_00: I remember once I think I was using the sapphone and we're in um yeah, we're on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere on someone's property, and I lost the sapphone antenna.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: And so, and there was a few of us, and we're all like one o'clock in the morning with my phone porch trying to find this little antenna so I could use the phone.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_02: One o'clock in the morning?
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_02: So you've landed in the dark, yeah.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_00: Night landings are pretty amazing actually.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's amazing what our pilots can do, you know, and especially with night, there's you know, there's a bigger element of risk, but it doesn't bother them.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_02: So you wouldn't necessarily land on a station air strip in the dark?
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we can.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_00: Would you?
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: Uh yeah, no, we and we have, yeah.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_00: Remember there was one night um we're uh yeah, up north and it was a beautiful landing and it was just a beautiful blanket of stars.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_00: It was the nicest night ever.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, if if there's lights, yeah, we can.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_00: And that's all dependent on the pilot.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_00: If they say we go, we go.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_02: Is there a particular patient or situation that you've never forgotten about?
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_00: Uh yeah, there's a couple that come to mind.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_00: I remember there was one there's ones that you just don't think are gonna make it, and you know, really challenging jobs.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_00: I remember there was one with uh pneumonia, really bad pneumonia, and um yeah, and there was this decision like, oh, can we can we go?
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_00: You know, because any movement as well, and oxygenation is really important, and we were already on the highest you can with oxygen, so but we're like, no, we've gotta we're gonna provide more help where we're going than staying where we are, and that flight was really challenging.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I think there was one moment, I'll never forget this moment.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_00: I looked at the doc I looked at the monitor and the the oxygen sats had dropped to about 70.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: And I looked at the doctor and he looked at me and we're like, okay, and so we troubleshoot, we because in those moments, like, yeah, we know it all in our head, but we do have cue cards that we can go, oh yeah, let's check this, let's you know, so because the doctor and you, you're a world oil machine, you're a team, so working together to work out this, work out what was going on, and um anyway, and I was like, I'll just put pads on because you know, just in case as well.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_00: Anyway, we troubleshow, you know, and a few minutes later we went back up to an acceptable number that we're like, yep, okay, let's keep going.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: We we're good.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, and that trip was like that the the whole trip, you know, like um yeah, just you know, any little change or even movement, you know, could affect oxygen and and all that kind of stuff.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_00: And and you know, our pilot was really good and working with him because you know, he's like, Oh, yeah, well, we worked out we could fly lower to try and save oxygen consumption and all, you know, so they play an important role in a job like that too.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_00: And then the tricky part is getting off the plane and then going on a road to the hospital, and then you know, that's when ambulance officers are coming really handy, and they know when a patient's really sick and they can really help you with that.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_00: And anyway, we we got to the hospital, we got to their ICU, um, they put the patient on a certain machine called Nitric to help.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: Uh it's a vasodilator, so it helps provide, yeah, it helps with oxygenation but helps with the circulation in the lungs as well.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_00: And I remember we handed over, all went well, you know, patient got there, and then I think the doctor and I got into the lift and we just our backs just hit the lift and we're like, oh my god, how will we do this?
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_00: How do we get here?
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_00: So you just had me on answer, and you know, and that patient survived, like, you know, and and that's it.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_00: When someone's that ill, like any movement and stuff, and we're transferring them.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_00: So there's that element that you're like, but this is what we're trained for too.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, um, so it went really well.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_02: What did you really say in the lift?
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_00: No, pretty much that yeah, pretty much.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_00: There might have been something else, but but that just that absolute sense of relief.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_02: Well, I goosebumps through that.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think um that's happened a few times, and um but then you look back and you're like, you know, you've given that person every chance they possibly can, and that's it.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_00: Like in a rural or remote area, like healthcare out here is is challenging compared to a city, you know.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um, city, there's lots of options, but having that option to get them to the city so they can have that treatment is just so important.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_00: That's why I love my job.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, dude.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_02: And and Catherine, too, like you can't forget about yourself on some of these flights.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_02: Like you've got to be drinking water and looking after yourself.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_00: And and and there's a balance there because you can't drink too much water because you don't know when the next toilet is.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, there's always a bush toilet, I suppose.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: But um, yeah, no, no, we do not have it.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_00: I remember I did a talk once um with school kids, and I'm like, yeah, there's no toilet on the plane, and they're like, What?
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_00: They were like mortified.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_00: They're like, You can't.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_02: So you can be in there for a couple of hours.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_00: So I think we're pretty lucky here.
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_00: We, you know, it's like 80 minutes to Adelaide.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_00: 80.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: But um, it's about two and a half hours, yeah, three hours, depending on headwind on the way back to Sydney as well.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_00: So that's probably our longest flight generally to Sydney.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_00: Depends where we're going, but sometimes we might have to go somewhere to fuel to keep going as well.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_02: Sneaking a quick way then.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think I had to do that once where yeah, we're on the way back here, and they're like, Oh, can you go to Tipper Bar?
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_00: So we stop somewhere.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_00: So make sure you've got yeah, your fuel and yeah.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_02: I was thinking like you need to be drinking a certain amount of water, you're going through a lot of stress.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think also flying is really taxing as well.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: So I think when I first started, I was always told that uh one hour in the air is equivalent to three on the ground.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_00: So, particularly when you do have long flying days, so you're doing, you know, four, six sectors to get in different jobs, particularly when we go east as well.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_00: Because like coming back, we also always have headwinds.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, like you come back from wagga wagga or something, they're like, Oh yeah, it's gonna be about two hours.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_00: You're like, oh, okay.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_00: And then sometimes I underestimate the physicality of the flying.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_00: And so the next day I'm like, Why am I so tired?
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: It's like, oh wait, we went hee, he, he, he.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah, that's that's why.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, and that's when you drink more water, and and and also like, you know, um, it is a very physical job as well.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_00: Like we're moving stretches in and out, and and we've got lots of packs that we have to, you know, carry.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes we have to put the stretcher on the back of Ute and strap that, or in like it does fit in a land cruiser in a Sahara on an angle.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, does it?
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 21:31
  SPEAKER_02: So you can roll up to uh you know a station's airstrip, um, jump in their Ute, go to the patient, put them on the back of the Ute, bring them back to the plane.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yep, yep, yep.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, or you know, work out how they can step off the Ute onto our stretcher.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, so there's a lot of different things you do to make it work.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_02: Now your phone's going off.
• 21:54
  SPEAKER_02: Do you need to answer it?
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: I'm worried that we're gonna lose you soon, but I'll just double check what this number.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: We're off to Burke.
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_02: I'll come with you.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_02: Catherine, I've got some off-the-wall questions coming up.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_02: Oh I've just got to let our listeners know, you have not seen any of my notes before today or any of these crazy questions you're about to be asked.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_02: So these are just short answers.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_02: What's the strangest thing you've ever had to deal with on a job?
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, uh it's there was one night we were, yeah, going to one of the remote sites.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_00: We picked up one patient, was picking up another one.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_00: We were uh on descent and there was a thud.
• 22:33
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, what's that?
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_02: This is in the dark?
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, of course, one o'clock in the morning.
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um yeah, everything happens at night.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_00: So we landed and he checked the plane and and it all looked okay.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_00: And and he like because I have to call the engineer to make sure that we can still go and and it all looked good.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: He's like, Yeah, yeah, no worries, you can you can go.
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_00: And so, and then I completely forgot about it, and then landed.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_00: We landed in Broken Hill and opened the door, and all of a sudden the engineer is standing there and scared the hell out of me because it is one o'clock in the morning, and I'm like, What are you doing here?
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_00: It's like oh and so we're waiting for ambulances, and he goes to get stuff, and yeah, I was inside anyway.
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_00: He's going up in the scissor lift, and the patrons are like, Well, what the hell is that?
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, it's not the shiny, it's just the engineer, he's just on the super lift, you never know, or even sometimes you're like, Okay, we're on a job, and they're like, Oh, we've got a flat tire.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_00: Like, oh, okay.
• 23:33
  SPEAKER_02: Well, this might be the same answer, but what's the funniest thing that's happened to you while working?
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um, well, there's a few, I suppose.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_00: I think generally we just have a lot of fun.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_02: This is good to hear.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think um, like there's always ongoing jokes.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_02: What's the weirdest place you've ever had to do a job?
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think it was going to um Lord Howe Island.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_00: I think that was um, yeah, it was so unexpected.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_00: Because it's a long way as well.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_00: And oh I remember I had to call one of my friends because I was unsure if I'd get back.
• 24:08
  SPEAKER_00: Because sometimes we do get stuck as well.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, so I was like, can you can you please feed my dog?
• 24:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm going, yeah, I'm going to an island.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_00: She's like, what the yeah, so yeah.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_00: So I think that's for broken hell.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, so I'd say it was it was it was that.
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_02: I love it.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_02: What's one thing you always pack that nobody would expect?
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know if that is well, I think it's we all have little go bags because yeah, you never know when you're gonna get stuck.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_02: Um what's in the go bag?
• 24:39
  SPEAKER_00: So generally we'll have like a phone charger, like a change of underwear, socks, yeah, just in case you get stuck overnight somewhere.
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_00: Does happen occasionally.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's fairly normal what I park.
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think I have barley sugars, just yeah, but yeah, but yeah.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_02: Well, wasn't expecting you to say jocks and socks.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, well, yeah, you've got to be prepared.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_00: You just never know.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 25:05
  SPEAKER_00: It it keeps you going.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_02: Now we've got a few quick rapid fire questions.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, I think one or two word answers.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_02: Here we go.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_02: Morning person or night owl?
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_00: Bit of both.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_02: Favourite remote community you visited.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, this is recorded.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_02: This is like this is like children, isn't it?
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_02: You can't really have favorites.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_00: No, no, the far west.
• 25:26
  SPEAKER_02: That'll do.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_00: Can we go with that?
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we don't want to, we don't want to start.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_02: What's one thing you never forget to pack?
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_00: The drug bag.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, good, good.
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_02: Best meal you've ever been served on the job.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_00: Bacon and egg roll.
• 25:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 25:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, with um with coffee.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_02: Where was that?
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: Uh it was north.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_00: It was on um on a remote station.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_02: If you weren't a nurse, what would you be?
• 25:57
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, oh, that's a I think I'd get into woodworking like a carpenter.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 26:04
  unknown: Okay.
• 26:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_00: I would probably wouldn't have said that about 10 years ago, but yeah, I think now, yeah, that would be funny.
• 26:10
  SPEAKER_02: I'll do change what you're doing.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_02: We're happy.
• 26:12
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_02: Um, what's one thing working with the RFDS has taught you about people?
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_00: They're amazing.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_02: Agree.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_02: After everything you've experienced, what does the RFDS mean to you?
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's life, really.
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_00: Like it's amazing what we do for people and we help them where they gotta go, but I personally rely on it for my friends and family as well.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, it's it's vital service for us out here or any remote regional part of Australia.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_00: The RFDS is important in a lot of different sectors, not just here.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_00: So I think it's it's just a vital service.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_02: You're saving lives.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, but it it it helps us too.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_00: It keeps us out here, you know.
• 27:00
  SPEAKER_00: So I think that's a a big thing, you know.
• 27:03
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of people, yeah, you you know, when you look at places to live, you look at services.
• 27:08
  SPEAKER_00: And if we can have services to get us to a tertiary center when we need it, that's gonna help you stay there too.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_00: So I think that's what keeps me here too.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_00: Like having that option.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_02: So then if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, oh, I think Spain.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_00: Really?
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, broken hill, Spain.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_00: Well, you said anywhere, so Catherine, I could talk to you forever.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, I'm loved with this chat.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's been great.
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you're very caring.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, we try.
• 27:42
  SPEAKER_02: You've got lots of experience and lots of funny stories, and you make the job fun.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, well, it is fun, yeah.
• 27:49
  SPEAKER_02: And the Royal Flying Doctor Service is just an awesome organization, and we're all very pleased you are here.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, and thank you for coming.
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks, Catherine.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_02: Bye-bye.
• 28:03
  SPEAKER_02: What an incredible insight into the people behind the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
• 28:08
  SPEAKER_02: The distances, the challenges, and the decisions made under pressure are extraordinary.
• 28:13
  SPEAKER_02: But so too is the dedication of the people who keep this service flying.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_02: Catherine clearly loves what she does, and after hearing her stories, you can understand why the RFDS means so much to rural and remote Australia.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_02: If you can, support the RFDS.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_02: Every dollar helps keep them flying.
• 28:35
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks for joining me for this very special conversation with Catherine Hines from the Royal Flying Doctor Service.