The RNS Big Wrap for Nurses Van trip is now completed. Tom, Sue and Samantha Dunlop & Shawn Perry shared the travel over some 6,000 km on a 20 day journey that allowed us to deliver a message of thanks as well as some goodies to 10,000 nurses. 

Commencing their trip from the Sunshine Coast on Friday 23 April, the RNS team made their way out to Roma and Charleville, up through Longreach and Julia Creek across to Charters Towers and Townsville. Cairns was next on their hit list, covering off on a visit to Tully on the way through.  Heading back down the coast saw them visit Innisfail, Cardwell, Ayr and Bowen and then all stops across Mackay, Rocky to Bundy, then Gympie through the entire Sunshine Coast and down to Brisbane, finishing yesterday, 11 May, at Royal Childrens' Hospital and the RB&WH.  

The Big Wrap Van and the characters on board (think Cleopatra, Where's Wally, Jock the Scotsman, a Mexican....) generated lots of media interest with coverage from local TV, radio, and newspapers throughout the journey. 

Photos of the journey are posted on the Regional Nursing Solutions Facebook page and also on flickr - links to these are in the right hand toolbar on this webpage.

Allowing for the Golden Bed Pan Bed Racing event held on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday 8 May, the RNS Big Wrap Van travelled 6,000 km commencing 23 April until 11 May, so they could be back to cheer on the bed racing teams.

The route travelled was plotted to allow for van team members to fit in university (RN & Science student on board), accommodate travel time (I guessed!), meeting clients, driver reviver stops and trying to catch up with media who were calling to join us at some facilities along the way.

We would have loved to spend another couple of weeks so we could get to every facility however we managed to pop a few goodies in the mail to those we couldn't meet. Now that we've had our maiden voyage, next year we'll plot out the map and start the trip in the beginning of April :) or maybe next week!

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A road trip delivering a message of thanks to nurses, midwives & carers across Queensland -  we'll be travelling across the RNS client base of hospitals & aged care facilities from Stanthorpe to Cairns between 21 Apr through to 7 May 2010.

RNS Big Wrap Van: