Michael and Kathy's Outback Adventure, In Support of Lifeflight

At Darling Downs Tarpaulins, giving back to our region and the causes that matter isn't just a line in our strategy, it's something we actively put into practice. Recently, Michael and Kathy had the chance to do exactly that, trading the shed for the outback on a trip to Longreach purchased at the Lifeflight Gala auction.

Lifeflight's work speaks for itself. Across regional and remote Queensland, their aeromedical crews are often the difference between life and death, and events like the Gala exist to keep that capability funded and flying. When the chance came up to bid on a Longreach experience in support of that cause, it was an easy decision.

The trip started in the air, with a fantastic flight experience courtesy of Julie from Aeris J. From there, the itinerary read like a proper outback adventure.

A guided tour of the Stockman's Hall of Fame gave Michael and Kathy a real appreciation for the history and heritage of the pastoral industry, an industry not too far removed from the one DDT has spent over four decades serving.

Accommodation for the trip was courtesy of David and Tanya at Mitchell Grass Retreat, where glamping in the outback proved to be a genuinely wonderful experience. As Michael put it, they're more used to riding the open double decker buses through Europe, so touring Nogo Station near Longreach on one, made for a memorable change of scenery. The tour, hosted by Jeremy, came highly recommended, well worth the trip out for anyone considering it.

One of the standout moments came cruising the Thomson River as the sun went down, the kind of gorgeous outback sunset that photos rarely do justice. The evening finished at Smithy's with a bush dinner cooked over the coals, a fitting way to close out a day spent supporting a cause close to home.

For Michael and Kathy, and for DDT as a business, trips like this are about more than a good time away. They reflect a belief that community and industry are stronger when businesses show up, not just with sponsorship dollars, but with genuine involvement. Lifeflight's work protects the same rural and regional communities that DDT has built its business around since 1984, so supporting them felt like a natural fit.

Thank you again to Julie, David, Tanya, Jeremy, and everyone involved in making the trip such a memorable one, and to Lifeflight, for the vital work you do across Queensland every single day. If you'd like to support Lifeflight's rescue and retrieval work, you can donate or find out more at lifeflight.org.au.