Service takes a different road

More than 3000 kilometres of Queensland roads gave FLTLT Cameron Murray a different perspective on service.

As a volunteer driver for the Queensland Variety Bash’s medical response vehicle, he travelled from Innisfail to Gladstone, providing first aid and responding to medical incidents as the convoy moved through regional and remote communities. For FLTLT Murray, the demands were familiar.

“As an Air Force aviator I’m accustomed to operating in dynamic environments, making decisions under pressure and coordinating responses to complex situations with limited resources,” FLTLT Murray said.

“Those skills translated well on several occasions throughout the Bash, particularly when responding across geographically dispersed locations.”

The medical response role, however, was only part of the experience. The Bash stopped at schools and communities that have benefited from Variety grants, which provide equipment, resources and opportunities for children living with illness, disability or disadvantage.

Meeting the recipients of that support, including more than 600 students from 12 remote schools, gave FLTLT Murray a tangible appreciation for fundraising.

“Listening to parents share their experiences and witnessing the direct impact of Variety-funded equipment, services and opportunities was both humbling and inspiring,” he said.

“At Capella, I met a nine-year-old who received a jungle gym and trampoline to help build strength, confidence and motor skills at home. Her story is a testament to her courage, character and resilience.

“While the fundraising figures are impressive, the true measure of success is the tangible difference those funds have made in the lives of children and families.”

The experience also reinforced the value of bringing people together behind a common purpose.

“It was inspiring to see individuals from diverse backgrounds unite behind a common purpose, dedicating their time, skills and resources,” he said.

“It highlighted the obstacles some families face every day, but also the profound impact when a community can come together to support them.”

The 2026 Queensland Variety Bash raised more than $1.8 million to support children across Queensland.

For FLTLT Murray, the experience reinforced that the skills developed in uniform can be useful well beyond the Defence environment.

Whether responding to an incident on the road or meeting families at the end of a long journey, the Bash offered a different expression of the same principle – using your skills, time and experience in service of others.

After 3000 kilometres, the medical response vehicle rolled into Gladstone. The road trip was over, but the experience had left a lasting impression of the communities it passed through – and the difference a little support can make.