It's not just aeroplanes that play an important role in keeping the RFDS in the air. We also rely on a group of dedicated fundraisers who use pedal power to keep the Doctor flying.
For the past 11 years the Silver City Bush Treadlers have been holding an annual bicycle ride to raise much needed funds for the RFDS.
Right now the Silver City Bush Treadlers Inc. are undertaking an epic ride of 3718kms from Broken Hill to Darwin, reenacting the ride made by Frederick Blakeley and the O'Neil brothers in 1908.
The cycle started in Broken Hill on 5 July then travelled via White Cliffs, Milparinka, Lyndhurst, Marree and will arrive in Alice Springs on 2 August. It then leaves Alice on 5 August for Darwin, arriving 22 August.
This is out latest update from the riders:
"Its been tough riding! We had 30 pts of rain at Sturt's Meadow so 27 km of mud the next day and lots of headwinds. We rode 79 km through sand dunes across the Strezlecki desert with another 15 km the next day and two salt pans to yet another bush camp. We had 90 km of rough hilly road and 30 knot headwind. Then we rode through a dust storm from Lyndhurst to Maree with headwinds of up to 40 knots. Yesterday we had only our second day of tailwinds for 106 km, today another 103km with headwinds and corrugations into Oodnadatta."
Stay tuned for more updates as the riders head from Alice Springs to Darwin.
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Pictured: Riders heading out of Broken Hill