THE ROYAL Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Dubbo Base is all the better for Terry Clark's ability and passion for talking about it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But earlier this month the decade-long president of the RFDS Dubbo Support Group found himself "speechless".
The Rotary Club of Dubbo South, one of the base's biggest supporters, had asked Mr Clark to turn out to one of its meetings as guest speaker.
It was a ruse that led to the RFDS stalwart standing stunned and silent in front of an applauding crowd.
Immediate past president Joe Canalese, standing in for club president Tim Manning, had called Mr Clark forward but not to update members and guests on the iconic service delivering emergency, primary and dental care across western NSW.
Instead, he announced that Mr Clark had been made a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his commitment to the RFDS.
The club donated US$1000 to the Rotary Foundation in order to bestow the honour on the non-Rotarian.
"I was absolutely overwhelmed," Mr Clarke said when the Daily Liberal called to offer congratulations.
"I had to fake it till I could make it."
Mr Clark joined the support group in 2001 when his Dubbo business reached the stage where he could find the time to "give something back to the community".
Two years later he was elected president, a position that has made him the volunteer face of the base through sheer hard work.
When he is not talking to individuals, organisations and media in the region, Mr Clark is leading a "wonderful" team, serving on the board of the RFDS South Eastern Section, or rolling up his sleeves.
Last week he hitched a ride on an RFDS plane headed to Broken Hill, landing about noon and immediately jumping into a vehicle and driving back to Dubbo, a 10-hour exercise.
The vehicle will be used to tow a simulator of the cockpit and fuselage of a King Air plane, an educational tool set to do the rounds of the region.
The support group put $150,000 into the 9.1-metre simulator on its way to NSW from Perth.
During Mr Clark's tenure as president, the support group has collected $1.2 million from a generous public for the development of the base.
"It's not hard to generate money once you get momentum," he said.
"Someone sold some wool the other day and sent us a $1000, just in the mail.
"We are very grateful for the community's support."
The Rotary Club of Dubbo South handed across another $10,000 to the support group at the meeting attended by the new Paul Harris Fellow.
It takes to $30,000 the donation from the club from a ball held earlier this year at the base.
