This month, local charity Royal Far West is celebrating 100 years of dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of children in rural and remote Australia.
Since its inception in 1924, the Manly-based charity has provided essential healthcare services to country kids who otherwise face significant barriers accessing such care.
Founded by Reverend Stanley Gillick Drummond, Royal Far West began as the Far West Children’s Health Scheme. Rev. Drummond envisioned offering respite for children in need on the beaches of Manly, and his vision soon became a reality.
For more than 50 years the Scheme ran ‘Far West Seaside Camps’, where children were nominated by local doctors, teachers, nurses, clergy, and police to come to the beach for respite. It was at one of these camps that Northern Beaches based Dr George Moncreiff Barron noticed the medical needs of these children and offered his services free-of-charge. This marked the evolution of the holiday camps into the healthcare programs that remain foundational to Royal Far West today.
Over the decades, Royal Far West’s services have expanded and evolved to meet the changing healthcare needs of country children – from general medical care in the 1920s to dental care in the 1930s and a fully staffed in-house Splint and Surgical Boot-Making department to support children with polio in the 1940s. Royal Far West’s adaptability and innovation have enabled it to remain a pillar of support for country kids.
Today Royal Far West is a specialist child development service providing developmental, mental health and disability support. Its innovative programs are delivered at RFW’s Centre for Country Kids in Manly, via virtual care or through in-community visits.
Inside Royal Far West’s Centre for Country Kids on Wentworth Street, children and families are supported in state-of-the-art facilities by a multidisciplinary clinical team, alongside the wider RFW support team. The immersion program hosted here offers a welcoming environment where children and families can feel at home and experience a sense of community. The facility also houses the Royal Far West School, a Department of Education School that supports ongoing education for visiting children (both clients and their siblings).
The charity’s legacy is built not only on its healthcare services but also on its partnership with the Northern Beaches community, who have shown steadfast support throughout the years. Royal Far West is deeply grateful for the community’s support and feels privileged to welcome families to enjoy this beautiful part of the world that we call home.
Donate
Visit royalfarwest.org.au to donate or learn more about the history of Royal Far West
Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering at Royal Far West, visit royalfarwest.org.au/get-involved/volunteer