TWO huge bequests from deceased Dubbo residents will help the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section (RFDS SE) Dubbo Base move into a new era of "technology, innovation and tourism".
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The late Barbara Webb and Thomas Watts each left a portion of their estates to the base's Dubbo Support Group on the condition the money be spent at its discretion.
For about three years the bequests have earned interest in fixed-term deposits as support group members looked for a project that would be worthy of the accumulated $1.1 million.
Thirteen-year president of the support group Terry Clark said the next stage of the base's development fitted the bill.
The $1.1 million from the support group and $1.5 million from RFDS SE will be matched by the state government to expand the footprint of the base on land leased from Dubbo City Council at Dubbo City Regional Airport.
"It will take on a whole new dimension with new technology and innovation mixed with tourism," Mr Clark said.
Last week NSW Premier Mike Baird announced a "joint initiative" between Israeli technology company Elbit Systems and the RFDS SE to equip the Dubbo base with a Beechcraft Kingair aircraft flight simulator.
The company's Australian subsidiary will launch a commercial enterprise from within the base using the simulator.
Its staff will instruct pilots including RFDS pilots who currently train overseas at great expense.
The base will also grow to include a RFDS SE integrated aeromedical simulation and training facility along with a fully-fledged tourism and visitor centre.
Mr Baird identified an $18 million investment in the iconic service's Dubbo base where construction of new infrastructure was expected to get under way late this year and be operational by Christmas 2017.
"The centre will be the first aeromedical training facility in Australia to combine training for pilots as well as doctors and nurses," he said.
A plaque in the base's existing visitor centre recognises the contribution to its future of Mr Watts and Miss Webb, a 1993 foundation member of the support group.
Mr Clark said he had never had the pleasure of meeting Mr Watts.
The support group has declined to reveal the size of the individual bequests revealed to it in letters from solicitors, delivered 12 months apart.
"It's fantastic to be able to present a cheque for $1.1 million, but that's purely because of the generosity of these people," Mr Clark said.
The support group intends waiting for the next interest payment on the bequests before withdrawing the money it has "protected and managed".
