Apex musters Angel Flight donation

Optus Gympie Music Muster 2010 chairman Carl Green (left) and Optus manager Garth Da Silva (right) present Angel Flight’s Terry McGowan with the major proceeds of the event at the round up dinner.

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ANGEL Flight's aircraft will be kept flying for some time after the charity received a cheque for $71,388 at the Optus Gympie Music Muster Round Up dinner on Friday night.

The organisation was the major beneficiary of the 2010 Muster and event chairman Carl Green, accompanied by Optus manager Garth Da Silva, presented the cheque to Angel Flight representative Terry McGowan on stage at the annual dinner.

Angel Flight co-ordinates non-emergency flights to help country people trying to deal with the triple trouble of bad health, poor finances and daunting distance all over Australia.

All flights are free and may involve patients travelling to medical facilities anywhere in Australia.

Aircraft used are all privately owned and the owners and pilots freely give of their aircraft and time to serve those in need, many times on multiple trips.

Mr McGowan said the money donated went towards buying aviation fuel to keep the aircraft flying, with all other costs met by the aircraft's owners.

A second use of the fuel money is for those who use their own vehicles to meet the flights to convey those in need to and from their medical appointments.

During the dinner, a number of Gympie-based organisations received substantial cheques as part of the funds distribution from the 2010 Optus Muster.

Gympie Apex 2010 president Darryl Blacker presented substantial funding to Robins Roses, Gympie Sportsmans Association, Gympie Special School P and C, Chatsworth State School P and C, Gympie Cricket Association, Cooloola Schools Chaplaincy, Alma Street Kindergarten, Sailability Tin Can Bay, Gympie Girl Guides, St Vincent de Paul, Putting Youth in the Picture and Athletes with Disabilities Soccer Olympics.

2010 Muster committee treasurer Jon Weller and grounds co-ordinator Wayne Dean presented plaques to Muster media supporters while Carl Green and fellow Apexian Reg Leis presented mementos to the event's corporate partners.

Mr Green also announced Optus as the 2011 naming partner.

Optus manager Garth Da Silva said his communications company would this year be providing even more improved services at the Muster with the company having made an investment in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide services and support the Muster.

Gympie Apex Muster 2011 chairman Glenn Smith announced the major beneficiary of next month's Gympie Music Muster would be the Starlight Children's Foundation and he was hoping to raise an even greater amount in the Muster's 30th anniversary year.