Local family John, Trish and their daughter Tamara Taylor used the Angel Flight service for the first time on Monday morning.

It was Tamara’s physiotherapist who recommended the Taylors use Angel Flight to transport them to Melbourne for a specialist appointment.

Tamara, now 14, was born with cerebral palsy and is reliant on using either walking sticks or a wheelchair to get around.

Yesterday’s specialist appointment was to gain advice on what sort of operation Tamara would need in the near future to straighten her right knee and foot, which have begun to turn in.

Angel Flight seeks to assist people of all ages living in rural and remote areas, who need scheduled treatment at destinations where other forms of transport are physically and emotionally taxing or unaffordable.

This trip was not only special for the Taylor family, it was also exciting and a little nerve-wracking as it was the first ever plane flight for Tamara and John.

“I can’t wait to get up in the air, I am very nervous waiting for the plane,” Tamara told the Herald.

“This service is invaluable, my husband and I would not feel confident enough to drive to Melbourne for this appointment, so to use Angel Flight is a massive relief for us,” Trish said.

Piloting the Taylor Family on the flight to the Melbourne airport, which was expected to take two hours and 35 minutes, was Doug Benson from Young.

This flight was Doug’s 28th journey for Angel Flight.

Mr Benson said fortunately Angel Flight has only had cause to visit Cootamundra on very few occasions.

With 40 years of commercial flying experience, Mr Benson encourages more local residents to use the free Angel Flight service, where necessary.

“I am semi-retired and love what I do, I get a buzz out of the people I meet,” Mr Benson said.

“A question I often ask myself is why are those people who are less fortunate medically and financially often the nicest and most easygoing people.”

Angel Flight pilots donate their time, their skills and the bulk of their aircraft costs for each flight.

When the Taylor family arrived at Melbourne airport they were transported to the specialist’s clinic by car with a group known as Earth Angels.

John, Trish and Tamara would like to thank the Angel Flight pilot for transporting them to and from Melbourne and extend a big thank you to the Cootamundra Lions and the Anglican Church community for their kind donations to assist with accommodation and eatery expenses while in Melbourne.