RICHARD Shaw doesn’t have a motorbike license, but he still bought two tickets to win a new Harley-Davidson from one of his workmates.
Muster participant Dan Rayner sold the tickets as part of his fundraising efforts in this year’s Wayne Leonard’s Motorcycle Muster.
The event, which has been running for 17 years, was this year raising money for new EEG equipment at Cairns Hospital’s neurology department.
“When Dan sold me the tickets I thought it was a good cause even though I’ve never owned a motorbike,” Mr Shaw said.
Lo and behold, one of his two tickets, was drawn as the winner – drawn randomly by computer at the celebration night this year held during the weekend event at Undara Lava Tubes.
“I really don’t need a motorbike so I’m planning to sell it and donate part of the proceeds back to the Foundation,” he said.
The Muster, hosted by the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, raised more than $54,000 this year – meaning the event has now raised $947,000 since it first began.
Foundation fundraising and event coordinator Gaby Thomasz said Mr Shaw’s thoughtfulness was very generous.
 “Our top fundraiser this year was Geoff Nielson, ably assisted by his mate Bob Ison, who sold more than 70 books of tickets and raised $7142,” Ms Thomasz said. “It was nice to see the top fundraising prize go to Geoff who has had some medical hardship himself and we appreciate everyone’s work in fundraising so hard,” she said.
“We’d also like to pay special tribute to Wayne and Rhonda Leonard, who are truly community spirited people and put themselves out to help others, year after year.
“We’d like to thank everyone who bought a ticket, everyone who sold a ticket and everyone who donated because they have all helped make a difference to health care in our region.”

Photo: (top) Foundation fundraising and marketing manager, Muster participant Dan Rayner, Rhonda Leonard, bike winner Richard Shaw and Wayne Leonard. Above: Richard Shaw tries the new Harley-Davidson blackiron out for size.

WHEN most of us think of panda’s, we think of cute animals from China with distinctive black and white markings.
When paediatric doctors and nurses think of them, they think of vital, life-saving equipment for those patients most at risk – neonatal babies.
And thanks to the generosity of the FNQ community, more will be available for the 300 (approximately) babies who need them in our region.
The team from Southern Cross Austereo, which owns Triple M in Cairns were pleased to present a cheque for more than $31,000 to the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation today, as a result of this year’s GM54K campaign.
That brings the total, since 2012, to $270,629 donated by GM54K to the Foundation.
SCA Cairns general sales manager Richard King said it was incredible to meet the clinicians and see what the money goes towards.
"This stuff that the community is fundraising for is actually saving lives, so we love that we can get behind and support that, with the help of our team and our incredible clients," Mr king said.
Cairns Hospital director of paediatrics Dr Neil Archer said he aimed to have the same level of equipment across the hospital for these precious babies – from the emergency department, to theatre where some are born by Caesarian section, to the Special Care Nursery.
The Panda warmers keep baby warm while clinicians and loved ones are cool, has an integrated in-bed scale meaning less disturbance to baby for weighing, and incorporates vital resuscitation equipment for critical babies.
Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation CEO Tony Franz said the GM54K cheque was one of the largest in recent years.
“It just goes to show that when our community knows it can help those most at risk, they really do dig deep,” Mr Franz said.
“In recent years, funds from GM54K have gone towards quilts, lamps and rocking chairs for parent rooms in the special care nursery, parent sofa beds in the children’s ward, and of course the paediatric playground,” he said.
“The community can take heart from the fact that when we receive donations like this – every cent donated goes to its intended cause and stays local, we purchase the equipment directly from the donation and hand it over to the hospital staff, AND because we are a DGR listed charity, donations to us are tax deductible.
“I look forward to continuing our local relationship with SCA and GM54K well into the future.”

Photo: Cairns Hospital children's ward nurse unit manager Natalie, director of paediatrics Dr Neil Archer, Foundation CEO Tony Franz, SCA's Mark Littler and SCA's Richard King.