A GENEROUS donation has been made to the Royal Flying Doctor Service in memory of a South-East Italian Pensioner Club member.
The club donated $2000 it raised from hosting bingo and other social events to the critical regional aeromedical service under the name of the late Fred Bresolin, who supported the service in the 1980s.
In 1988 Mr Bresolin walked from Mount Gambier to the Royal Flying Doctor Adelaide office, fundraising along the way.
Walking an average of 30km a day, he landed on the service’s doorstep 16 days after leaving Mount Gambier.
Mr Bresolin and his wife Luigina door knocked in Mount Gambier and Millicent for donations to the cause securing $16,000 before the trek began.
By the end of his trip, they had raised $23,000 for the service which was matched by the State Government.
Ms Bresolin said her late husband used the service in the final years of his life when he was airlifted to Adelaide for medical treatment.
“A lot of people who donated back then donate each year,” Ms Bresolin said.
“My husband passed away in 2017 so we as the club thought it would be a good idea to make a donation in his name.”
Ms Bresolin said the club decided to donate the full profits from the club to the service as club activity is currently at a stand still due to COVID-19.
“As soon as we are able to open up again we will be starting back up,” she said.
“It is important for us to continue to support the Royal Flying Doctors Service because they come to Mount Gambier between one and two times every day.”
Describing the service as critical for regional areas, Ms Breslion said the club also made donations in the name of other members who had passed.
“My family have had experience with the service and they have been an incredible help to our family in times of need,” she said.
“Although we donate each year this year’s is more than usual because we have not been able to run the regular activities we usually do.”
