THREE “FIRSTS” FOR NARROMINE

On Wednesday 15th December, the departure of a Cessna 172 aircraft from Narromine represented three “Firsts” for this small agricultural community.

It was the first flight for 8-year-old Sarah Everingham; the first Angel Flight out of Narromine and the first Angel Flight Mission for pilot Brian Thornton.

The purpose of this special flight was to make life a little easier for Sarah who has Cerebral Palsy. According to her father John Everingham Sarah is lucky to be alive and has never walked, and this trip is an opportunity to see what can be done to help her.

“Sarah has what is called Severe Global Delay which has affected her development in a number of areas, but especially her walking,” Mr. Everingham said.

“For a long while after she was born she had to be fed by a tube and had lots of other complications. But she is now a bubbly little girl, she can get around on her hands and knees and even climb furniture so we are now doing everything we can to help her walk.”

Sarah is the second youngest of ten children with five aged between 6 and 10 years still at home.

“I can’t praise Angel Flight enough for helping us in this way,” Mr. Everingham said.

“The journey usually takes us about six hours by car which can be very tiring and difficult for Sarah and on top of that we are now having car problems making it impossible for us to drive there. It has made such a difference to us I can’t thank them enough.”

This story appearing in the Dubbo Liberal and the Narromine News 17/12/04.

Brian Thornton - Pilot

Sue Terry - Earth Angel
(Sue's 2nd mission)

About Brian Thornton

A solicitor by profession, Mr. Thornton said he started flying when he was just 17 years old and has had a passion for it ever since.

“I take every opportunity for business or pleasure to fly over this beautiful country of ours, and when I read about Angel Flight I thought it was a great opportunity for me to put something back into the community where the recipient receives the full benefit from it,” he said.

“I have a seven-year-old granddaughter who has all her faculties and I can appreciate just how lucky we are. It was wonderful to meet Sarah and I feel it’s a privilege to have been able to help her in this way.”

Smiles were the order of the day.

Angel flight 1 report by Brian Thornton

"The ETD form Maitland of 0600 Local Time was delayed due to areas of broken Stratus at 1000. By 0700 most of the low cloud had burnt off and so departed, tracking Singleton, Dubbo, Narromine. The sky was clear west of the ranges and arrived at 0830 in clear conditions with a southerly wind.

John, Sarah and a reporter from Dubbo were present and I was welcomed at 0830 as ANGEL FLIGHT 1 because of the 3 firsts: Sarah's first time in a plane; the first ANGEL FLIGHT out of Narromine ; and my first ANGEL FLIGHT.

Unfortunately, Sarah's fold-up wheelchair was still too bulky to fit into the luggage area and had to be left behind. A telephone call to CENSAR to provide a new SARTIME for Bankstown and a check on the weather for MT VICTORIA (SCT SC 5500) meant a 0935 departure from Narromine at near MTOW, climbing to 5500 for a smooth flight as far as abeam Lithgow.

An intended track through Richmond below 5500 was thwarted by some low cloud sitting on top of the range and so it was necessary to divert south for some clearer weather, arriving at Bankstown at 1125 to be met by Sue and a welcome cup of coffee and piece of Christmas Cake. The return flight to Maitland was uneventful. John was very grateful for the flight and being saved a long drive in a car that had some mechanical issues and Sarah seemed to have enjoyed her first flight. Next time I will ensure I have my camera."

Earth Angel & photographer Sue, with Sarah and John.

David Knight - Pilot

Bryan Padwick - Earth Angel
(Bryan's 9th mission)

Angel flight 2 by David Knight
Previous missions for David - M112 AF2, M130 AF1, M159 AF1, M170 AF1.

David, John and Sarah.

Not shy of a camera, Sarah enjoyed her day.