General News
14 May, 2025
Burke Shire mayor leads the charge for LifeFlight
Ernie Camp delivered a cheque on behalf of his council at a tour of the new facility last week.
Ernie Camp knows all too well the benefits of having reliable aeromedical services in Outback Queensland.
The Burke Shire mayor had a first-hand experience last year on Floraville Station when he lost control of a planned fire and received burns to 20 per cent of his body.
“I was trying to control the rubber vine and the piece of equipment I had failed me and I ended up burning myself,” Cr Camp said, nonchalantly.
“Thirty per cent of my burns were third-degree.”
The long-time mayor was too far from the homestead to make a phone call, so he had to drive himself to help. He even closed the gates behind him.
“I did have to recover myself and drive 23km back. Of course I closed the gates! That’s just what you do,” he said.
After an initial assessment at the Burketown Health Clinic, Cr Camp was flown to Mount Isa via the Royal Flying Doctor Service. After some treatment in Mount Isa, he was then transported to Brisbane on the LifeFlight jet.
“All I can say is that people in Brisbane would have probably been quite envious of the support that we can get, as indicated, in times of drastic events in our region,” he said.
At a tour of the new LifeFlight and RFDS aeromedical facility in Mount Isa last week, Cr Camp handed over a $5000 cheque to LifeFlight.
Burke Shire had supported the RFDS and Careflight with donations, but had now added LifeFlight to its annual register of supported not-for-profits.
Cr Camp said it was one way the council could show its support to the life-saving services.
“Another way that all councils and even landholders can support services like LifeFlight is to send out a water tanker or truck if you know the helicopter is coming in,” he said.
“These choppers don’t like the dust flying in their rotors so if you can wet down the landing area you can look after their gear a bit better.”
Richmond Shire mayor John Wharton, who has just taken the reigns as the chair of the LifeFlight regional advisory committee, praised his counterpart’s contribution and encouraged all North West councils to follow suit and support the services.
“If you can match the Burke Shire donation, or put on an annual fundraiser, it’ll go a long way to helping,” he said.