Subsequent trip for Aden (3rd & 4th Angel Flights).	Subsequent trip for Ford (22nd & 23rd Angel Flights).

ANGEL FLIGHT - A STORY OF MATESHIP

Anzac stories have demonstrated that “mateship” is a trait that identifies what it is to be Australian and is most evident when people are struggling or down on their luck.

And for two little Aussie boys, their struggle with the life-threatening illness, Leukaemia, has not only created a bond between them but also attracted others to give them a helping hand along the way.

Whilst they live many miles apart, Ford Fairlane Te Nahu [6] of Deniliquin and Aden D’Helin-Lawrie [7] of Wodonga, were faced with long and tiring trips by road in order to receive potentially life-saving regular chemotherapy treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne where they first met and became friends.

This was until Angel Flight came to the rescue with volunteer pilots transporting them free of charge to and from Melbourne and ‘earth angels’ driving them to and from the Hospital.

However, until now, these two young mates have travelled separately but on Tuesday 26th April they were together for part of their journey home. This being made possible through the generosity of Angel Flight Pilot, Steven Tsimos, of Beaumaris, who flew both boys to Albury where Aden and his mother said goodbye to Ford who continued on to Deniliquin with his mother and sister.

But that is not the end of this story of ‘mateship’. Joining with Angel Flight were two volunteers from the Leukaemia Foundation in Melbourne, designated “earth angels”, who each drove cars supplied by the Peter Brock Foundation to transport the two families to Essendon Airport.

Read about a previous mission for Ford (M339)
Read about a previous mission for Aden (M331)

Peter Longton - Pilot M342 AF1
3rd mission

Michiel Mees - Earth Angel
(Michiel's 3rd mission)

Angel flight 1 by Peter Longton
Previous mission for Peter - M331 AF1.

"Aden and his sister Darci really enjoyed the flight from Albury to Essendon. They either chatted, laughed or sang for most of the trip - albeit their mother Faye questioned my wisdom of giving them headsets as Melbourne Centre were a bit hard to hear at times, but that was a minor problem. The RAAF Roulettes finished their flyover for Anzac Day with a low level pass over Essendon Airport and then landed behind us. It was big excitement for the kids (and the grown-ups). It's great to be of some help to these people."

Roger Lenne - Pilot M344 AF1
18th mission

Earth Angel duties
performed by the
Leukaemia Foundation
Volunteer Drivers
(LF's 28th mission)

Steven Tsimos - Pilot
5th & 6th mission

Earth Angel duties performed by the Leukaemia Foundation Volunteer Drivers
(LF's 29th mission)

Angel flight 2 by Steven Tsimos
Previous mission for Steven - M330 AF2.

Comment by Steven

"Combining the two missions was a great idea as it gave Ford and Aden the opportunity to fly together and they had a ball sitting in the back seat on thier own. Aden's sister Darci was my co-pilot and may I say she sure has the gift of the gab. Between her and Air Traffic Control I was bombarded.

The flight to Albury was smooth, landing just before dusk. I dropped off Aden, mum Faye, and Darci; then Ford and mum Corrine and I proceeded to Deniliquin on a beautiful clear night arriving there just after 7.00 p.m.

The trip back to Melbourne whilst lonely, gave me time to reflect on just how lucky most of us are and how unfortunate some people in the
world are. I was honoured to be able to help in some small way."

Aden and Ford test drive their Peter Brock Foundation cars.

Corrine (mother of Ford) and Faye (mother of Aden).

Darci (Aden's sister), Aden, Ford and Steve.

Aden and Darci contemplate a joy ride while Steven ducks out to do some shopping.

"Just park this next to the other two, driver."