Latest news with #TerryPurcell
ABC News
26-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Mother-and-son duo, Mitchell and Kym Purcell, take to the skies for Outback Air Race
Sitting in the pilot seat of his late father's shiny aeroplane, Mitchell Purcell is about to take off on an epic cross-country flight. His dad, Terry, a businessman and proud grandfather, was just 53 when he died of cancer. He had lived life to the full: riding motorbikes, travelling the world, and buying a 1980s Cessna aeroplane — the "workhorse of the sky". "I first got my dad involved in flying with a Father's Day gift of a one-hour introductory flight, which he enjoyed and loved, and he ended up getting his pilot's licence," the 34-year-old said. In the cockpit next to Mr Purcell is his mother, Kym. The Purcells, from Gladstone in central Queensland, have entered the 3,881-kilometre Outback Air Race in honour of the late Mr Purcell, who competed in 2018. They are among more than 40 planes taking to the skies for the 18-day flying challenge to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). Beginning in Yulara, in the Northern Territory, and ending in Carnarvon, in Western Australia, with pit stops in several small towns in between, competitors will cover more than 2,000 nautical miles. The triennial event raised more than $750,000 when it was last held in 2022. Ms Purcell first took part in the competition in 2018 with her husband. "When we went down past WA … to see the coastline is spectacular from a smaller aircraft because you obviously can't get as high as the big planes … and the views are magnificent." At the Gladstone hangar, she held back tears as she remembered her beloved husband and explained the pride she had for her son. "It's nice to spend that quality time … doing this together is really, really enjoyable." Under the team's name "210 Fast & Furious", the Purcells will fly together in Terry's Cessna 210, a six-seater single-engine plane that was built in the 1980s and has undergone a series of upgrades, including to the propeller and fuel tank. "I can definitely see why Dad chose the Cessna … 'the workhorse of the sky' people call it," Mr Purcell said. "There are newer planes you can buy that are very similar to the dimensions … but they can't carry as much." Mr Purcell uses the plane to travel with his young family and for work, transporting workers and equipment across central Queensland. He is the managing director of an engineering business in Gladstone, which, among its work, services mines in the region. Outback Air Race manager Stuart Payne said the two-week event was run by volunteers and took years of planning. He first flew in a race in 2006 and was hooked. Mr Payne said, in the bush, the RFDS was life-changing for people who would otherwise not be able to access routine or emergency health care. "We're very happy to be supporting the charity, but also as pilots and people in the aviation community, we get to tick the box of being able to indulge our passion to go flying," he said. "We have a very, very high demand for the event; it sells out very quickly." Mr Payne said the race was set up as a timed navigating trial, where pilots are challenged by having to locate and fly over particular points, such as the corner of a paddock or a tower. "A lot of the legs are decided on the basis of a second or two of timing accuracy and typically less than 50 metres positional accuracy, so it's very competitive." Mr Payne said, after the event, money was distributed to different RFDS divisions around the country, so participants could give back to their own region. Mr Purcell said he wanted to fundraise for the RFDS as it was an important cause in Gladstone because many people in the community, including his own family, have used the service.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Grant could help Newton Recreation Center continue improvements
Officials at the Newton Recreation Center hope a grant will allow them to improve the growing facility. The township supervisors agreed last week to apply for the state Greenway, Trails and Recreation Program grant on behalf of the center on Newton Ransom Boulevard. The money would be used to repave and add spaces to the parking lot, renovate the outside basketball court and add exercise equipment to the trail on the grounds, board Chair Terry Purcell said. They also hope to use the money to add two pickleball courts, she said. Purcell estimates fixing the parking lot will cost $200,000, and it will cost about $50,000 to resurface the basketball courts. The supervisors agreed to apply for $250,000 in funding. Purcell said the parking lot is the board's priority, with the growing number of people using the facility. 'We want to make sure we have adequate parking because our attendance is increasing over the past couple of years,' she said. 'We want to make sure that that necessary initial work is done in the parking area, because that'll just enhance the facility all the way around.' * The playground and trail at the Newton Recreation Center pictured Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo) * The Newton Recreation Center pictured Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo) * The outside basketball court at the Newton Recreation Center Wednesday, May 28, 2025. The township supervisors agreed to apply for a grant on behalf of the center that would improve the court and parking lot. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo) * The parking lot at the Newton Recreation Center pictured Wednesday, May 28, 2025. The township supervisors agreed to apply for a grant on behalf of the center that would improve the court and parking lot. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo) Show Caption 1 of 4 The playground and trail at the Newton Recreation Center pictured Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo) Expand Purcell said they want to add pickleball courts in response to the growing interest in the sport at the center. A pickleball league plays at the center weekly. If the center receives the funds, she hopes to use them for the parking lot and basketball court projects, which could start next year. 'They are our top two priorities,' Purcell said. Constructed in 1939 as the township's school, the building has been operated by the township since the late 1990s. Municipal officials considered selling the building in 2023 but decided against doing so when a board was formed that year and began planning activities and carrying out improvements inside and outside the building. The board last year was awarded a $250,000 state Department of Community and Economic Development grant to replace the windows and make improvements to the indoor gym, and $5,000 through Lackawanna County's Community Re-Invest Program to purchase outdoor equipment. Purcell said the board is thrilled the township applied for the grant on its behalf as it will allow them to provide more opportunities for people of all ages. 'We're excited to have the opportunity open up for us so that we can start to expand on what our initial vision was,' she said.
