HUNDREDS of children took the controls of a Royal Flying Doctor Service aero- plane on Saturday. The simulator is in town for a week as part of an educational tour teaching families about the life- saving health services the RFDS provides.

Stationed at Bunnings on Saturday, RFDS Victoria education manager Tom Ryan said the simulator was a great way to begin a con- versation about health with children and teaching them about the mobile health services provided by teams aboard the planes.

“The simulator is a great way to get a conversation about the health services we provide happening,” he said.

“A lot of kids when they sit in the pilot’s seat say they’ve never been in an air- plane before – it’s very real for them and the inside of the airplane is real stuff and they are allowed to touch it.”

The RFDS provides primary health needs to remote families and com- munities such as general practitioners, women’s health, optometry, diabetes telehealth and a new mental health program.

Mr Ryan will also visit Murrayville, Red Cliffs East, Mildura, Irymple and Red Cliffs primary schools.

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