Townsville University Hospital patients’ lifted by Army helicopter flight

“I never thought two broken arms would get me this far,” Liam said.

CAPTION: Soldiers from 5th Aviation Regiment present a safety brief to Townsville Hospital Foundation charity ‘Brighter Lives’ recipients on the Army-leased AW139 helicopter. Story by Captain Tadek Markowski. Photos by Gunner Ryan Kearney.

The Townsville youngster’s attention was focused on a helicopter with the word “Army” on its side, as it descended towards the cricket oval at James Cook University.

Liam was one of about a dozen young patients from the Townsville University Hospital invited along with their parents to fly over the city in an AW139 helicopter this month.

The flight was part of Operation Care Bear, a community engagement activity that brings together Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment and the hospital’s charitable foundation, Brighter Lives.

The collaboration, since 2019, has been a welcome distraction from the rigours of treatment and hospital wards for hundreds of sick children and their carers.

As well as the flights over Townsville, soldiers from the unit visit the hospital’s wards on a regular basis.

Bec Alferez, from Brighter Lives, said some of the younger patients were so excited about the prospect of “going up into the sky” that many could not sleep the night before.

CAPTION: A young boy from Townsville University Hospital prepares for a flight.

“It’s great that the parents get to see them so happy, especially after facing their recent challenges,” Ms Alferez said.

“Many of these parents have been standing at their bedsides for so long; it’s great to see them all so excited and outside the hospital.”

From the fringes of the oval, troop commander of 5th Aviation Regiment’s B Squadron Captain Timothy Oke watched the day’s four flights take off and land.

“It’s great to see the smiles and happy faces as they’re getting off the helicopter,” Captain Oke said.

“We love coming out here and doing this, flying for these kids.”

For 12-year-old Liam, who broke both wrists in a bike accident, it was an especially rewarding day.

In addition to flying in a helicopter, and mum Naomi sending pictures to his friends and family, he was expecting to have both casts removed later in the day.

Liam said the 15-minute flight, which included circling the V8 Supercars Reid Park Street circuit, was “the best thing ever”.

“The best part was turning sideways and seeing all the race cars on the track,” he said.

CAPTION: Corporal Charlotte Mears from 5th Aviation Regiment gives a thumbs up to a young girl after a flight.

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