February 2, 2017
Former Kingaroy resident Don Moffatt should be well-known for lots of reasons: a Vietnam chopper pilot, life member of LifeFlight and the Sunshine Coast Turf Club … but now he’s also a Member of the Order of Australia.
Mr Moffatt, who now lives in Buderim, received his AM in last week’s Australia Day awards for “for significant service to the community of the Sunshine Coast, to aero-medical organisations, and to the horse racing industry”.
He was born in Kingaroy in 1945 and attended Brisbane Boys College before joining the army.
Mr Moffatt served in Vietnam during the war as an Australian Army helicopter pilot and instructor.
After his return, he became a successful businessman as a property developer on the Sunshine Coast.
He was chairman of Tourism Sunshine Coast for seven years and a Board member of the Sunshine Coast Turf Club for 16 years, during which time the club developed into a major racing venue. He only retired from the Turf Club five years ago.
Mr Moffatt combined his love of flying and his love of the Sunshine Coast by becoming involved in the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service, later part of CareFlight, and now merged with LifeFlight.
He has served on the Boards of all three organisations, only recently retiring as Deputy Chairman of LifeFlight.
LifeFlight Chairman Rob Borbidge congratulated Mr Moffatt on his Australia Day award.
“Don has devoted much of his life to providing his experience, expertise and leadership to the boards of lifesaving aero-medical services and this award is due recognition for the work that he has done,” Mr Borbidge said.
Mr Moffatt was Chairman of the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service for 15 years.
