Our history
“You look after their souls and I will look after their bodies.”
That’s what Dr George Moncrieff Barron told our Cobar-based founder, the Rev. Stanley Drummond, when he learned of his great plans for the children of the Outback.
Established in 1924, Royal Far West has a rich history of innovation, dedication, and determination to improve the health and wellbeing of children who live in rural and remote communities, connecting them to the care they need but cannot otherwise access because of where they live.
As one of Australia’s most enduring and respected charities, we consistently adapt to meet the changing needs of country children and families.
We boldly go where the system stops, to wherever we are needed, using technology to ensure no child and no community is beyond our reach.
1924The Founders
Cobar-based Reverend Stanley Gillick Drummond conceives the idea for the Far West Children’s Health Scheme while recuperating on...
1925First Far West seaside camp
58 country children attend the first Far West seaside camp. Country children are nominated by local doctors, teachers, beach nurses,...
1926Medical care arrives
Noticing the outback children’s medical needs and lack of access to health services where they live, Northern Beaches’...
1928/9Manly guesthouse opens
Mrs Elsie E. Hill turns her guesthouse in Wentworth Street, Manly, into a home for the Far West children coming...
1930The NSW Department of Education provides a teacher
The NSW Department of Education provides a teacher so that the children, some of whom stay 12 months or more...
1931Outback paediatric innovation
Recognising the need to bring basic paediatric services to NSW’s rural and remote communities, the first of four innovative...
1932First aerial baby clinic takes flight
The innovation continues, with Bourke resident Sid Coleman buying a plane when he realises the need to reach the more...
1932The Far West Building Fund Committee is formed
The Far West Building Fund Committee is formed to raise funds to build the Drummond Home in Wentworth Street, Manly....
1935Travelling Dental Clinic
A travelling Dental Clinic is introduced, with Dr Walter Wearn and his wife Polly Wearn providing the first comprehensive dental...
1935The Angel of the Outback
Pioneer Australian aviator Nancy Bird (later known as Nancy Bird Walton AO, OBE, ‘the Angel of the Outback’)...
1935Committed Branches support The Far West
More than 100 Far West community Branches are in outback NSW, supporting and raising substantial funds for The Far West....
1938School opens
The NSW Department of Education Far West School formally opens to ensure that country children, some of whom live with...
1945Polio impact
The outbreak of polio sees The Far West evolve to meet the changing needs of many country children, leading to...
1948Radio station 2PK Parkes supports our kids
Announcer Betty Muzyczuk becomes Radio Station 2PK Parkes Sunshine Club’s familiar voice and face. Over many years the station...
1952–59Plans to expand
The two blocks of land on the corner of Wentworth St and South Steyne are acquired for the new Hospital...
1965Mobile car clinics commence
Services expand as Mobile Car Clinics are introduced to support the Rail Car Clinics in regional NSW....
1970Queen Elizabeth II visits
Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne visit, resulting in the granting of the official prefix ‘Royal’. We are now known...
1987Aged Care services
The introduction of Medicare leads to the beginning of aged health care alongside our children’s health services. Our aged...
2011Enhanced clinical services for children
Royal Far West evolves once again with the launch of new service programs, including enhanced clinical services for children with...
2013Telecare for Kids begins
Following encouragement from our CEO Lindsay Cane AM to grow and expand the reach of our services, our clinicians innovate...
2015Services expand into QLD & WA
We are invited into remote communities in Queensland and Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia to support children and families with...
2017Launch of “The Invisible Children” report
Royal Far West and the Murdoch Institute Children’s Research Institute launch ‘The Invisible Children’ report, an evidence-based review...
2018Centre for Country Kids Opens
Royal Far West officially opens Australia’s only integrated health, education and disability service for country children and families, the...
2018Royal Far West wins awards
We receive the Australian Charity Outstanding Achievement Award for out Telecare for Kids program and win the prestigious NSW Mental...
2019“Stories of The Invisible Children” report
In conjunction with Charles Sturt University, we launch our “Stories of the Invisible Children” report, which examines the lived experiences...
2019Grant supports national expansion of Telecare for Kids
In recognition of our innovative proposal and deep experience, the Commonwealth Department of Health grants Royal Far West $19.7m...
2019CEO Lindsay Cane AM
Royal Far West CEO Lindsay Cane is awarded an AM for significant service to community health, particularly in regional areas....
2019Architects appointed for health and wellbeing campus
Royal Far West appoints two of Australia’s most lauded architects, Glenn Murcutt AO and Angelo Candalepas to design an...
2019Bushfire Recovery Program partnership
Royal Far West, in partnership with UNICEF Australia and the Paul Ramsay Foundation, creates the first dedicated recovery program to...
2020RFW pivots during pandemic
We respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic by pivoting the vast majority of our services to a telehealth model,...
2021Jacqueline Emery CEO
Jacqueline Emery commences as Royal Far West’s new CEO as Lindsay Cane AM steps aside after a decade...
2023Launch of the Resilient Kids Toolkit
Royal Far West, with support from the Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch Foundation and resources and insights from our partners Emerging...
