- About Charity Flight
Every year RIDBC and Pathfinders, with Qantas as a major sponsor, host a fundraising flight to a delightful destination.
- This year's destination
This year's destination for the 2009 Qantas Pathfinders Charity Flight is beautiful and breath-taking Queenstown, New Zealand
- Special guests
Joining passengers aboard the Charity Flight will be RIDBC Ambassador and international best-selling author, Tara Moss.
- Reserve a seat
Seats for the 2009 Qantas Pathfinders Charity Flight to Queenstown, New Zealand are now available.
Your contribution in action
This year’s Qantas Pathfinders Charity Flight may give passengers a chance to travel thousands of kilometres in just one day, but its proceeds will also go the distance – They will help families like Neal and Jolanda Watson from Darwin and their three-year-old son, Jesse.
As Jesse was growing, Neal and Jolanda became increasingly concerned that something was wrong with his hearing. They had no idea that their concerns would be proved right. At two years of age, Jesse was diagnosed as profoundly deaf.
“When we found out, we didn’t really know what to do,” Jesse’s mum, Jolanda said. “It was a complete surprise.”
Thankfully, Neal and Jolanda were referred to the RIDBC Teleschool, RIDBC’s service for families living in regional and remote parts of Australia.
At the touch of a TV remote, RIDBC Teleschool – which uses hi-tech videoconferencing equipment – brings the unique educational skills and resources of RIDBC straight into Neal and Jolanda’s lounge room, over 3,100 kilometres away.
Having one-on-one sessions with Jocelyn Ho, their RIDBC teacher in Sydney, Neal, Jolanda and Jesse use the provided videoconferencing equipment to work on short and long term listening and language goals. Neal and Jolanda can then use what they’ve learned to continually help Jesse catch up on his missing years. The results have been remarkable.
“It’s been a journey. It’s incredible to see how Jesse has developed. The change from just a year ago is amazing,” Jolanda said. “We really appreciate the wonderful support we’ve received from Jocelyn and everyone at RIDBC.”
The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children relies heavily on initiatives like the Qantas Pathfinders Charity Flight to be able continue to make a difference to children’s lives.
