Dad inspired to fundraise

Watching his daughter fly 1300km with major internal bleeding started a Bunbury man’s life journey to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Cliff Anderson’s daughter had to be flown to Perth from Port Hedland three times in an alarmingly short period of time.

“Each time was for progressively worse reasons,” he said.

“The third time, the RFDS has to fly below 1000 feet because she had massive bleeding brought on by failed surgery.

“It wasn’t until afterwards that I found out that flying below 1000ft comes with massive costs.

“I decided then I wanted to do fundraising to help where I could.”

As an avid golfer, Mr Anderson chose to hold a father-son golf tournament as his way to repay the RFDS for saving his daughter’s life more than four years ago.

Mr Anderson said the tournament was a way to bring families together, much like what the RFDS endeavours to do.

“There is a succession plan in the tournament because as the sons grow, they will bring their own sons to the event,” he said.

“We already have one team that has three generations on it.”

There has been a $10,000 target for each golf tournament and about $27,000 has been raised over the past four years.

“I don’t get upset if we don’t meet the target,” Mr Anderson said.

“Whatever money we raise is money the RFDS didn’t have beforehand.

“By being attached to the RFDS, knowing what they do, helping them is reward enough.”

The golf tournament itself is a low-key affair, with more than 25 father-son teams playing nine holes at the Sanctuary Golf Resort.

“My hope is that — one day when I’m gone — my son will continue on with the tournament,” Mr Anderson said.