By IANS
Perth : Ricky Ponting and his players will wear special commemorative shirts on the opening day of the third Test against India here Wednesday to celebrate Australian cricket board’s official charity partner Royal Flying Doctor Service’s (RFDS) 80th birthday.
After the day’s play, these shirts with players’ signatures, will be donated to RFDS for public auction on www.flyingdoctor.com, Cricket Australia (CA) said here Tuesday.
The money raised from the auctions will be utilised for the vital services that the Flying Doctor provides to all Australian citizens round the clock, seven days a week and all through the year.
“It is a privilege to be standing alongside the RFDS at such an important milestone in their history,” CA chief executive officer James Sutherland said.
“It is my hope that the day raises funds for the Flying Doctor but more importantly takes the spotlight that is generated by the Australian cricket team and puts some of it on to the vital work the RFDS does every day.”
RFDS national chairman, Tim Fischer said the organisation was excited to have its logo displayed on the national cricketers’ shirts during the match.
“The baggy green cap and RFDS are totemic symbols in Australian history,” Fischer said.
“It is apt that a cricket match played in one of the world’s most remote cities should commemorate the 80th anniversary of the institution, which provides medical services to some of the world’s most isolated communities.”
In January 2006, CA appointed RFDS, founded by one Reverend John Flynn in 1928, as its official charity partner for three years.
With a strength of 82 doctors, 129 nurses, 50 planes, 135 pilots and 22 venues for treatment across the country, the RFDS has till date conducted 35,000 aeromedical evacuations and attended to 242,000 patients.