Bryden Ballantyne and Ruth Bond received the RFDS Meritorious Service Award at a group afternoon tea at Watervale on June 9, presented by RFDS general manager, marketing and public relations Charlie Paterson and volunteer coordinator Jan Ward.

“Both women have given outstanding service, and the award is presented to those volunteers who have given a minimum of 20 years to the organisation, above and beyond what is expected,” Mr Paterson said.

The two recipients are only the 17th and 18th volunteers in the state to receive the prestigious award.

“The Clare support group has been running for more than 50 years and has raised many thousands of dollars in that time.”

The RFDS has 25 support groups scattered throughout South Australia and the Clare branch is one of the oldest. Funds raised go towards purchasing aircraft and medical equipment for the organisation.

“The RFDS is not just about the bush. We help people in the city and the country,” Mr Paterson said.

In an average week in Adelaide, one in 20 people are flown or evacuated from an urban centre.

“Once a week, on average, we would fly from Adelaide to Melbourne to carry organ recipients or a newborn baby requiring heart surgery,” he said.

The service also provides primary health care clinics in remote areas, making more than 280,000 patient contacts annually, using 51 aircraft and 21 bases. The service also provides first aid and trauma training as well as tele-health training.

“We make more than 10,000 tele-health consultations a year from Port Augusta,” Mr Paterson said.

“We also run the RFDS healthy living program where health professionals visit remote areas and educate people about diet and exercise and how this can impact on their health.”

The Clare RFDS support group has had four other recipients of the Meritorious Service Award - the late Dulcie Eyers, the late Joyce Smith, Marj Sommerville and Viney Beames were presented with their awards in 2006.