Post on 20-Mar-2018
• Newaircrafttakesitsplace
• Mother’sanguishandthanks
• Theperilsofrockfishing
• HighSchoolchampions
• Regionalevents
• IncludeaCharity
• Newwebsite
In this issue
1 May to 31 July 2011
Primary 69
Secondary 84
Search 4
Total 161
Hunter – Central Coast– Mid North Coast
1 May to 31 July 2011
Primary 36
Secondary 24
Search 1
Total 61
New England - North West
Proudly supported by estpac
Details of missions can be found at www.rescuehelicopter.com.au
RescueHunter•CentralCoast•MidNorthCoast•NewEngland•NorthWest Spring2011
Community support takes many forms
Frontpagephoto:TheService’sBELL412SPabovetheSkillion,TerrigalontheCentralCoastofNSW.
The Service achieved ISO 9001 certification in February 2009. An ISO 9001 quality management system provides the Service with a framework to monitor and improve performance in our Engineering Department.
ISO 9001 is by far the world’s most established quality framework, currently being used by over ¾ million organisations in 161 countries, and sets the standard for quality management systems.
This quality framework helps the Service succeed through improved customer satisfaction, staff motivation and continual improvement. This system improves performance, manages risk, encourages efficiency, streamlines operations resulting increased customer satisfaction.
Systems like this will help the Service build a competitive advantage for future contracts.
ISO 9001:2008FS 540396
Company Quality Certification and Carbon Management Certification
OurServicereliesheavilyon
thegenerosityofindividuals,
organisations,groupsand
businessestofunction
effectively.Whilstit’snot
possibletoaccurately
measurethiscontributionI
cansaythatwewould
struggletomaintainour
Serviceatthelevelexpected
ifwedidnothavethis
generousamountofsupport.
Forexample,therearemanybusinessesacrossourregion
thatprovidegoodsandservicesforeithernocostorfor
reducedrates.Therearetoomanytonameandthankin
thiscolumn,sufficetosaythatthistypeofsupportgreatly
reducesthecostsofrunningtheService.Thiscontribution
fromthecorporatesectorspansallthedepartmentsin
ourbusiness:engineering,operations,marketingand
fundraisingandadministration.Mostofthecompanies
involveddon’taskforanythinginreturn–theydoit
becausetheybelieveinthevalueoftheServiceto
thecommunity.
Similarly,ourvolunteersacrosstheregionmakeupan
incredibleworkforceofadvocatesandfundraisersforthe
Service.Organisedinto35differentVolunteerSupport
Groupsinmostoftheregion’stowns,theyworktirelessly
throughouttheyeartoensuretheServicegainsthesupport
itneeds.Theyallwanttoensurethatthehelicopteris
availabletoanyoneintheircommunitywhoneedsit.
ManyindividualsinourcommunitiessupporttheService
bylendingassistancewhencalledupon.Weareluckyto
haveawidenetworkofexperiencedpeoplewhoareonly
toohappytolendahand.Elevenindividualsmakeupthe
Service’sBoardofDirectors.Similarly,theServicehasan
AdvisoryCommitteefortheoperationalareaoftheNew
EnglandandNorthWestcomprising13members.They
volunteertheirtimetoregularlyattendmeetingsandwork
togethertomakedecisionsaboutpolicydirection,finances
andotherissuesaffectingtheService.
Toallthesepeople–thankyouforyourtirelessand
consistentsupportoftheWestpacRescueHelicopter
Service.
Richard Jones GeneralManager
Page2 WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011
On28December2010at7:30pm,Pilot
MarkGoolmeerandRescueCrewman
GlenRamplinreceivedacallfromthe
MedicalRetrievalUnittoflyparamedics
toacampgroundatMungoBrushon
MyallLakes,northofTeaGardens.
Agasbottleexplosionhadcaused
burnsto6people.Twoofthosepeople
werechildrenandan8yearoldboy
and10yearoldgirlhadsevereburnsto
theirface,shoulders,chestandarms.
TheywereflowntotheJohnHunter
Hospital–a30minuteflightcompared
toaoneandahalfhourtripbyroad.
Latertheyweretransferredtothe
BurnsUnitatWestmeadChildrens
Hospital.Thechildren’smother
contactedtheBasebyemailvia
theService’swebsite.Shethanked
everybodyinvolvedfortheirkindness
andefficiency.MarkGoolmeerthen
senttwo“PilotKevvy”mascotsand
twoWestpacRescueHelicopter
Servicecapstothechildrentohelp
theirspeedyrecovery.Theyeach
respondedwiththankyouletters,a
posteranda$5.00donationfromtheir
fortnightlypocketmoney.
Email from MumHi there, on the 28th of December
2011 I was camping at Mungo Brush
with my four children and friends,
when my two youngest children
were burnt in a gas explosion from
a BBQ. They were taken by road
ambulance to meet up with your
helicopter. I couldn’t go with them
and I star ted the longest tr ip of my
life to John Hunter Hospital where
my babies were being flown by your
wonder ful people. I didn’t get to
meet you kind people that looked
af ter my babies on that fl ight but the
kids said you made them feel safe.
They told me how you talked to them
and told them that everything would
be all r ight. You allowed them to hold
hands from their stretchers which
made her happy because she could
feel her lit tle brother’s hand and
knew he was ok.
THANK YOU so much for the way
you treated my babies. I wished I
had been there to kiss their tears
but knowing they were in good
and kind hands at such a sad time
makes me feel so much better. The
kids are doing well. Their faces are
healing well and they look great, they
would love to find out the names of
whoever it was that looked af ter them
and maybe thank you in person. They
are visiting Westmead Children’s
Hospital burn unit next week to thank
everyone that helped them there.
So again from the hear t of a mum
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
Mum’s anguish and thanks
Crew Chief Peter Cummings
(left) with Intensive Care
Flight Paramedics from
Newcastle becoming
familiarised with the cabin
layout of the new BELL
412EP.
WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011 Page3
Fishing clubs assist
Fromtimetotimeourhelicopter
andcrewarecalledtorescue
peoplewhoaresweptfromrocks
intotheocean.Mostofthese
peoplearerockfishermen.The
taskofretrievingtheperson
fromthewaterorrocksisdone
bytherescuecrewmanwhois
wincheddownonacablefrom
thehelicopter’shoist.Thehoist
isoperatedbytheaircrewman
whilstthepilothoverstheaircraft
inthemostadvantageousandsafe
position.
Suchanincidentoccurredon
Friday17thJune2011whena
fishermanwaswashedintothe
seaandwasabletofindrefuge
onarockbelowthelighthouseat
SugarloafPoint,SealRocksonthe
midnorthcoastofNSW.Therock
wasclosetotheclif fedgedirectly
belowthelighthouseinblustery
20-25knotwesterlywinds.
Largeandunpredictablewaves
werefrequentlywashingover
thefishermanforclosetoan
hourbeforetheWestpacRescue
Helicopterteamarrivedandhad
safelywinchedthefisherman
aboardthehelicopter.He
apparentlysufferedonlyminor
abrasionsrequiringbasicfirstaid
treatmentandwasspottedfishing
thenextdayatamuchsafer
location.
Anonlookerwhoobservedthe
entireoperationsaid:“Theskill
andefficiencyshownbytherescue
teamwasfantasticanddefinitely
leavesmefeelingsaferknowing
theyarethere”.
Thepreventionofthesetypesof
accidentshasbeenaddressed
bytheFederalGovernmentby
producingawebsite,literature
andaDVDinEnglish,Korean,
VietnameseandChinese.
ItisintroducedbyAndrew
Ettinghausen.
Formoreinformationgoto
www.safefishing.com.au
TheJunctionInnFishingClubfrom
RaymondTerracerecentlymade
theirannualdonationtotheService
asaresultoftheH&DHomeTimber
andHardwareTwinRiversFishing
Classic.Almost300fishermen
competedfortrophiesandprizesin
March2011forfishcaughtalongthe
lowerPatersonandHunterRivers.
Thefundswereraisedfromentry
fees,raffleandsaleofT-Shirts.
ClubPresidentPeterKennedysaid
thattheclub’scommitteeselected
theServiceasthebeneficiary
becauseitwasmostlikelythe
organisationthatwouldhelp
membersintimesoftrouble.
TheJunctionInnFishingClubisjust
oneofover60FishingClubsinthe
regionthatdonatetotheService.
SomeoftheClubsthatdonatetothe
ServiceincludeLakeCathie,Uralla
Baitwasters,Bull&BushatMedowie,
BigCatchSocialatEleebana,Catho
atCatherineHillBay,CityTavernat
Tamworth,PallmallawaGoldenGrain
CatchandRelease,KootingalHotel,
OldBarTavern,SouthNewcastle
RugbyLeague,ThunderboltandThe
EntranceHotel.
The perils of rock fishing
The BELL 412SP hovering above the rock with the rescue crewman in red wetsuit tending
to the fisherman.
Page4 WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011
Norma’s contributionNormaYoungisjustoneofthe
manyhundredsofsupporters
whoplayHelicopterHousieinthe
region’sregisteredclubs.Norma
hasjustturned91yearsofageand
hasbeenplayingHelicopterHousie
attheBelmont16Footersforthe
past5yearsonbothMondaysand
Thursdayseachweek.Sheplays
withhercousinsandusesthetime
asaregularcatch-upwiththem.
Togettotheclub,Normaleaves
homeinHamiltonat8.00amto
catchtwobusestothe16Footers.
Shedoesitbecause“It’sadayout,
Ilovethelakeandwecanseethe
helicopterwhenitf liespastand
weknowit’shelpingsomeone”.
Onthewayhomeit’sanother
bustoCharlestownSquare(often
foraspotofshopping)beforea
bushomearound4.00pm.She
‘invests’$20foreachofthehousie
days,oftengoinghomewithsome
winnings.
Normahas4children,6
grandchildrenand5great
grandchildren.Herfamilycomplain
thatshe’sneverathome!!
Helicopter HousieVenues:The Adamstown Club: Brunker Rd, Adamstown
Belmont 16ft Sailing Club: The Parade, Belmont
Cardiff Panthers: Cnr Munibung and Pendlebury Rds, Cardiff
Club Macquarie: Lake Rd, Argenton
Club Taree: Wingham Rd, Taree
Easts Leisure & Golf Club: Tenambit St, East Maitland
Forster Bowling Club: Strand St, Forster
Halekulani Bowling Club: Natuna Ave, Budgewoi
Maitland City Bowling Club: Melbee St, Rutherford
Mingara Recreation Club: Mingara Drive, Tumbi Umbi
Nelson Bay Diggers: Shoal Bay Rd, Nelson Bay
Panthers Port Macquarie: Bay St, Port Macquarie
Soldiers Point Bowling Club, Soldiers Point Road, Soldiers Point
Wauchope RSL Club: Young St, Wauchope
West Tamworth League Club: Phillip St, Tamworth
Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri SAT Sun10.45am
Wauchope rSL Club
11.00am Belmont 16ft Sailing Club
11.00am halekulani
Bowling Club
11.00am Mingara
recreation Club
11.00am Belmont 16ft Sailing Club
11.00am Maitland City Bowling Club
11.00am easts Leisure & Golf Club
11.00am The Adamstown
Club
11.00am nelson Bay
diggers
11.00am West Tamworth
League Club
7.00pm Cardiff Panthers
1.30pm halekulani
Bowling Club
12.30pm Soldiers Point Bowling Club
11.00am Club Taree
7.00pm Forster
Bowling Club7.00pm Panthers
Port Macquarie
7.00pm West Tamworth
League Club
11.30am Panthers
Port Macquarie
7.00pm Club Macquarie
Black = Cash housie sessions - all cash prizes. red = Club Bingo and Cash housie sessions. Prizes include vouchers for Club Bingo (max $30 value) and cash.
7.00pm Thursday 29 September at Forster Bowling Club11.00am Friday 14 october at West Tamworth League Club11.00am Thursday 10 november at Belmont 16ft Sailing Club
7.00pm Wednesday 23 november at West Tamworth League Club11.00am Wednesday 30 november at Club Taree
BIG BUCKS BINGO dates:
Norma Young with the
Service’s Housie staff
Venessa Hyham and
Janine Fenton
WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011 Page5
Christmas in July
RayO’Connorisamemberofthe
Service’sRescueClubandisa
well-knownMaitlandhairdresser.
HespentthreedaysinJohnHunter
Hospitalafterfallingfromaladder
in2009.Raywaspaintingthe
gutteringathisdaughter’sLargs
homewhentheladderslipped
fromunderneathandhefellface
downontotheground.Aswell
asfacialinjuries,hesufferedtwo
brokenwrists.Afterassessment
bythelocalAmbulancecrew,the
helicopterarrivedin14minutes
withparamedicsaboard.Rayhas
fullyrecoveredandiscontinuinghis
hairdressingbusiness.
SoappreciativeisRayandhis
familyfortheService’sefficient
and‘hospitable’transport,that
theynoworganisethe‘BlingBall’
inMaitland.Attendedbynearly200
ofRay’sbusinesscontactsand
friends,theBallraisedover
$15,000inthepasttwoyears.
Thefundsaredonatedtothe
MaitlandVolunteerSupportgroup
whoassistonthenight.
Rescue Story
Ray O’Connor and his wife Diana at the
Bling Ball held in Maitland on 16 April 2011.
MaitlandOver120peopleenjoyedaChristmasfeastand
dancingattheTelarahBowlingClubon23July.
Some‘old-timerockandrollers’weretheretoshow
theirskillsasthecrowddancedtoRayKellyandhis
orchestra.ManythankstotheMaitlandVolunteer
SupportGroupfortheirtirelesseffortsinorganising
thisevent.
BelmontThisyear’sAnnualChristmasinJulyBallwasagain
heldatBelmont16FootersonSaturday9July.Joyce
MayneBennettsGreenwerethemajorsponsor
donatingover$17,000worthofelectricalgoodsand
prizes!Santa’sWarehousewasalsoverygenerous
decoratingtheroomintrueChristmasspirit.
Thefantasticfestiveeveningwascoordinatedby
dedicatedvolunteerColleenPraniessandher
fantasticvolunteercommittee.
Santa with Leila who won the best dancer award at Maitland Christmas in July
Page6 WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011
High School champions
Wingham’s ‘Ranginator’ loses locks
Cardiff remembers
Quirindi cooks
Michael Stocks loses his locks
Photo courtesy of the Wingham Chronicle
QuirindiHighStudentscaterfor350
peopleattheAnnualDinnerDance
in2011.Theannualdinnernowin
its11thyearisheldontheQuirindi
rugbyfieldandistheQuirindi
VolunteerSupportGroup’smajor
fundraisingeventfortheyear.
On30thJune2011studentsand
staffatCardif fHighSchoolheld
a‘HealthyHeartforBen’Day.
BenDavissufferedfromaheart
conditionandwasflownbythe
ServicefromtheJohnHunter
HospitaltoSydneyforspecialist
surgery.UnfortunatelyBendied
4monthslaterfrominfection
complications.
Ben’ssister,ElliewhoisinYear
12atCardif fHighorganisedthe
‘RedDay’withthehelpofthe
StudentRepresentativeCouncil
andteachers.Studentsmade
agoldcoindonationandsold
applestoraisemoney.Theday
raisedoverathousanddollarsfor
theService.
MichaelStocks,aYear12student
atWinghamHighagreedtoshave
hisheadfortheServiceaftera
12monthamnestyonahaircut.
Aftergainingsponsorshipand
donationsfromlocalbusinesses
andindividuals,Michaelagreed
togoundertheshearsinthe
quadrangleinJuneinfrontofthe
restoftheschool.Localhairdresser
AlanaClarkedonatedhertimeand
clipperstopushthroughthethick
redlocks.Anotherstudent,Josh
Barwellandtechnologyteacher
ScottBrownalsohadtheirhead
shavedandbetweenthemraised
$1,200fortheService.Year12at
WinghamhasadoptedtheService
asitschosencharityfortheyear.
WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011 Page7
Stockton to Birubi Beach Walk
New sponsor for race day at Wyong
OnMay28,2011adedicatedteamof48walked32kilometersfromStocktonbreakwalltoBirubiBeachcarpark.
Thewalk,nowinitsthirdyear,raisedanastounding$33,000fortheService.OrganiserKarenCooperofCaltex
servicestationMaryland,saidthewalkwasahugesuccessandthisisevidentinthegrowthofnumbersandsupport
overthepast3years.
Thewalkstartedat5:30amwithsupportfrom4WDescorts,f irstaidofficersandcateringcrews.Karenandher
husbandScottCooperhavelockedinApril21,2012fornextyear’schallengesoputitinyourcalendarandget
trainingforanotherfantasticdayonthesand!
John Boyd one of the walkers to Birubi presents
the results of his fundraising to the Service’s
Kieron O’Toole
LOGO – OAS
Technology groupA happy group of supporters at the Wyong Race Day
TheannualWyongCharityRace
Daytookplaceon15Julyand
wewelcomednewmajorsponsor
oftheday,OASTheTechnology
Group.Thepopularracedaysaw
180supportersrallytogetherto
raiseapproximately$9,000forthe
Servicewhilstenjoyingallthefun
andexcitementoftheraceday!
OthersponsorsincludeSerendipity
SpellingandBTSEnergywho
sponsoredindividualracesand
StocklandBayVillageretailers
providedraffleprizesandsilent
auctionitems.Specialmention
mustgotoWyongRugbyLeague
Group,AdvanceDesignand
Westpacfortheirongoingsupport
andracesponsorshipofthischarity
eventeachyear.
Thedaywouldnothavebeenso
successfulwithoutthehelpand
supportfromTonyDrewandhis
staffatWyongRaceClub.Also
thankstoourwonderfulvolunteers
Helen&AlyssaKale,Monique
Condon&SueFergusonfrom
Westpacfortheirassistance.
Stockton Beach walkers celebrate at the end of the walk on Birubi Beach
Page8 WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011
New aircraft offers more• Enhancedcommunicationand
navigationsystem
• Greaterengineperformanceand
moresingleengineaccountability
• Increasedstabilitythroughfast
finandtailboomstrakes
• Improvedergonomiccabinlayout
BELL 412EP’s long way home
From this in New York City…….
Then transport to Newcastle
At last VH-WSR Westpac 2 in action for the Service
Modifications in the snow in Calgary, Canada
New helicopter now ‘on-line’
Continued over page
WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011 Page9
The addition of a fourth helicopter to the
Service’s fleet marks the beginning of an
exciting new phase for the provision of
aeromedical services in the Hunter, Central
Coast, Mid North Coast, New England and
North West. General Manager Richard
Jones answers questions about the
acquisition of the new aircraft.
Why did the Service need to purchase another helicopter?
Firstly,wewantedtoensureclose
to100%helicopteravailability
atbothourBroadmeadowand
TamworthBases.Wecouldnot
guaranteethiswiththreemachines.
Secondly,anewerhelicopterwith
increasedcapacityandcapabilityis
neededintothefuture.Inaddition
it’saninvestmenttoensurethat
ourequipmentandassetsareupto
dateandcompetitivewithmodern
aeromedicalretrievalpractices
andexpectations.Itpositionsthe
Servicewellforourfuturewiththe
AmbulanceServiceofNSW.
Thisaircraftisasgoodasanyin
theworldforthistypeofwork.
TheEPmodelrepresentsthebest
technologyavailable.Wearevery
fortunatetohavebeenableto
acquirethehelicopterfromEagle
HelicoptersinCanada.Itwas
previouslyusedbytheNewYork
PoliceDepartment.
How will the BELL 412EP be used?
Thismachinewillbebasedat
Broadmeadowandworkwith
ourotherBELL412SP.They
willoperateina‘1up1down’
system.Inotherwords,onewill
alwaysbeoperationalwhilethe
otherisundergoingservicingor
maintenance.Thesamesystemwill
applyinTamworthforthetwoBK
117’sfortheNewEnglandNorth
WestRegion.
How much did it cost?
Thefinalamountis$9.6mwith
sometrainingcostsontopofthat.
Itisbeingpaidforoveranumber
ofyearsfromacombinationof
communitycontributionsand
favourablecommercialloan
borrowingsfromWestpac.
How many patients can it carry?
Itwilltaketwostretcherpatients
inaccordancewithourcontracted
requirementsfromtheAmbulance
ServiceofNSW.
Newly acquired BELL 412EP comes into service
New helicopter now ‘on-line’
Page10 WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011
What’s different about this helicopter?
Essentiallytheyarethesameframe,
sizeandshape,butthenewaircraft
is10,000hoursyoungerandhas
significantlyimprovedengine
performance,givingmorespeed
andbetterlif tingcapability.The
aircrafthasbeenpurchasedwith
anElectronicFlightInstrument
System(EFIS)givingenhanced
displaysforflightandnavigation
Chief Pilot Mike de Winton
talks about the new aircraft
instruments.This,linkedwiththe
4axisautopilot,willimprovethe
pilot’scapabilitiestoconductnight
missionsandoperationsincloud.
Inadditiontheaircrafthasbeen
fittedwithHUMS(Healthand
UsageMonitoringSystem).
Thismodificationensuresthat
allaspectsoftheaircraftare
monitoredoneveryflightforsigns
ofwearandfatigue.Itmeansthat
wewillbeabletoidentifypotential
unserviceabilitiesearlierthanwe
previouslydidwhichwillresultin
considerablecostsavings.
Thenewaircrafthasalsobeen
fittedoutforEMS(Emergency
MedicalService)operationsto
thelateststandardsrequiredby
theNSWHealthDepartment.This
meanswehavethebestmedical
f ittingsandequipmentlocated
ineasytoreachpositionsand
improvedpatientaccessfordoctors
andparamedics.
What type of additional training is needed to fly the BELL 412EP?
Allpilotsandcrewmenhave
undertakengroundschooltraining
onthenewaircraftcoveringall
dif ferencesbetweenthecurrent412
SPandthenew412EP.Inaddition
theywillallundergogeneralf light
handling,instrumentandNight
VisionGogglestraininginthenew
aircraftaswellaslearningthe
layoutandwinchingprocedures.
Theculminationofthistraining
willbefamiliarisationandtraining
oftheparamedics,doctorsand
nursestoensurealldepartments
arefullyawareoftheprocedures,
practicesandequipmentinthenew
helicopter.
Continued over page
WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011 Page11
Night vision goggle training
CheckandTrainingPilotPeterCookandCrew
ChiefPeterCummingsrecentlyattendedafiveday
courseatHobartAirportconductedbyRotorLif t
Aviation.RotorLif tisthefirstCASA(andtheUSA
StateDepartment)approvedNVGAdvancedFlying
AcademyinAustralia.
TheaccreditationreceivedmeansthattheService
cannowconductNVGtrainingforourpilotsand
crewin-house,pluscompletetheirannualcheck
flightsforpilotsandsixmonthlychecksforair
crewmen.
Thecoursecoveredtwodaysofclassroomtheory,
learningabouttherulesandregulationsthatareset
outbyCASA.Thepracticaltrainingcomprisednight
flyingintoarangeofareassuchasmountainous
terrain,lowlevelf lying,confinedareas,deepgullies,
pineforest,navigationandhoistingintoconfined
areas.
Hangar rash reduced Anewhangarhasbeenconstructedatthe
BroadmeadowBasesothatthetwoBell412’s
canbesafelyhoused.Becausetherotor
bladespanofeachaircraftis14.02metres
theexistinghangarwasnotwideenoughto
allowbothaircraftinsidewithouttheblades
touching.Theriskofdamagingtheleading
edgeofthebladesofbothaircraftwasvery
highsoanewshedwasbuilt.Thisnewhangar
hasbecometheoperationalhangarandthe
originalhangarisnowthemaintenancehangar.
Overallthereisnowlessmovementofaircraft
inandoutofthehangarresultinginless
“hangarrash”.
Special training
ShaneZoutendykeandDeanWeiktravelledtoFort
Worth,Texastounderstandandacquirenewskills
tomanagethenewsystemsintheBELL412EP.
Theyundertooka1weekcourseinelectrical
maintenancefollowedbyanother1weekcourse
onthe4AxisAutopilot.Anothercoursewasheld
attheBroadmeadowBaserelatingtotheVibration
ManagementSystem.Thecoursesareconductedby
theBellHelicopterCompanyanditistheonlyplacein
theworldwheretheyareconducted.
Models of the BELL 412EP
Diecastmodelsofthenewaircraftareavailableto
purchasethroughtheServiceoratFrontlineHobbies
Australia.Themodelsare1/48thscaleandarepainted
inauthenticWestpacRescueHelicoptercoloursof
yellowandredwithcharacteristicWestpac“W”onthe
sideandnose.Therotorbladesturnandthedoorson
bothsidesopen.Astandisincludedinthepackfor
betterdisplay.
Thecostofthemodelis$39.99andcanbeorderedat
eitherwww.rescuehelicopter.com.auor
www.frontlinehobbies.com.auorbyvisitingtheWRHS
BaseatBroadmeadowortheFrontlineHobbiesstorein
HunterStreet,Newcastle.
New helicopter now ‘on-line’
Page12 WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011
Our community
Heather leaves a lasting legacy
HeatherMeadeisaNewcastle
citizenandaretiredinfants
schoolprincipalbornandbred
inHamilton.Whenitcametime
toorganiseherWill,shedecided
thatshewouldbequeatha
smallamountofherestate
toeachofherthreefavourite
charitableorganisationsin
additiontoensuringherfamily
wasadequatelycateredfor.
Oneofthoseorganisationswas
theWestpacRescueHelicopter
Service.
“It’sjustalittlebittohelp”
Heathersaid.“I’vealwaysbeen
impressedbytheworkthatthe
HelicopterServicedoes.I’ve
neverhadtousethehelicopter,
nordoIknowanyonewho’s
beenapatient,butIseeitf ly
overandthinkofthewonderful
workyoudo”.
Recently,Heathervisitedthe
Basewithherlocalserviceclub
tolookatthehelicoptersand
havelunchwithVolunteers.It
reinforcedherdecisionthat
leavingagif tinherWillwasa
goodthingtodo.
Formoreinformationabout
leavingabequesttotheService
pleaseringPhilWilliamson
49520000orBarryWaltonon
67649400
“Because you help people” GlenInnesdonorRonMunday
continuestosupporttheService
becausethehelicoptersandcrews
“helppeople’.Itsassimpleasthat.
Ron,whoturned84yearsoldon
the1stJulylivesonasmallcattle
propertynearGlenInnes.Heis
veryactiveforhisage,hasregular
healthcheckups,followshis
doctor’sadviceandkeepsactiveon
theproperty.Ronhasdonatedto
theServiceandtotheGlenInnes
VolunteerRescueAssociationfora
numberofyears.Ronhasbeena
verysatisfiedCustomerofWestpac
for80years.
Key donors help to ensure future
Mr Munday presents a cheque for $50,000 to the Service’s Barry Walton at the Glenn Innes
branch of Westpac
WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011 Page13
Central Coast couple provide trailer load of supportMatt&MelClarksonhave
donatedatrailerloadofover
100itemsvaluedupto$10,000
includingthe4x6traileranda
$2,500BBQ.TheClarksonsare
outstandingsupportersofthe
Serviceandthisistheirlatest
initiativetoassisttheService
raisefundsontheCentral
Coast.Ifyou’dliketopurchase
ticketsinthisraf fleplease
contactShannonO’Haganon
p:43639746
Kempsey BallKempseyMacleayVolunteer
SupportGrouphostedtheAnnual
KempseyBallonSaturday23rdJuly
2011.ThePiratesoftheCaribbean
themedeventwasattendedby
some250peopleandraisedan
outstanding$20,000.Thenightwas
fabulouswithmostoftheguests
dressingincharacter.Deputy
MayorCouncillorLizCampbell
wasthespecialguestandgavea
shortspeechaboutthetownand
theimportanceoftheWRHSwithin
theKempseyarea.Thepeople
ofKempseyshowedwonderful
supportfortheWRHS.
Thiseventwouldnotgoahead
withouttheamazingsupportofour
volunteersinKempsey.Aspecial
thankstoRozFlew,JulieMurphy
ouramazingBallcoordinators.
Pirates of the Caribbean at the Kempsey Ball
Matt Clarkson with his trailor load
Our community
Page14 WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011
Payroll deduction programMoreandmorecompaniesintheregionare
followingtheiremployeesinsupportingthe
Service.Thousandsofemployeesdonate
totheServicethroughtheirpayacrossthe
regionservedbytheService.Thepayroll
deductionprogrammeansthatasmall,
regularamountcomesoutofthepaypacket
eachfortnight.It’susuallynotmissedby
thosedonatingandistaxdeductible.
Somecompaniesarenowmatchingthe
donationsthattheiremployeesmaketo
sendamessagetotheirstaffthatthey
respectandsupporttheirchoice.The
latestbusinesstodothisisECThrosbyof
Singleton.Thiscompanyisaprivate,wholly
Australianownedbeefprocessingcompany.
TheThrosbyFamilyhavebeenprocessing
livestockintheHunterValleyforover60
yearsfrom1951.LocatedinSingleton,EC
Throsbyisaprogressivebeefpackerwhose
productsaremarketedworldwide.Their
supportisgreatlyappreciatedbyallwhorely
onthisService.
Transpacific industriesRutherfordRefineryofTranspacific
Industriesisanewbusinesssupporting
theService.
Theirincentivefornoinjuriesresulted
inachequefor$500inJuly2011ater
100dayshadelapsedwithnoinjuries
on-site.TranspacificIndustriesuse
themotto‘RecoverRecycleReuse’to
describetheirbusiness.TheRutherford
facilityisonepartofthebusinessthat
eachyearcollectsusedmineraloil
frommorethan35,000workshopsand
businessesaroundAustraliaandNew
Zealand.Thewasteproductisrefined
tocreatehigh-qualityfueloilandhydro-
treatedlubricantbaseoils.
Employee representatives from EC Throsby present a cheque for $11,000 to the Service’s Business Manager, Kieron O’Toole. Pictured from left: Jonathon Smith, Nick Tull, Alison Brady, Kieron O’Toole, Danny Williams and Steve Hoffman
Transpacific’s Steve Matthews, Linda Butler and Ray Carson present a cheque to the
Service’s Phil Williams.
Companies support employees
WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011 Page15
The photos show left to right Bruce Matthews (driver and WRHS member), Diane Nemeth, Maureen Burlin and Lorainne Corcoran.
Around the region
Sad news for Service
Steaming to KiamaCessnockSupportGroup’sloveoftrains
continuedrecentlywhentheytookanhistoric
‘MotorRail’totheSouthCoasttownofKiama.
Despiteheavyrainandcancellationofthelocal
marketsthegroupstillenjoyedtheirdayoutwith
morningteaandlunchandfundraisingactivities
whichnettedover$1500fortheService.Many
thanksgototheMotorRailSocietyfortheir
supportandcareofpassengersonthetrip.
Scone Horse WeekThenewlyformedSconeVolunteerSupportGroup
waswellrepresentedintheHorseWeekparade
inKellyStreetSconeinMay.Long-termsupporter
GordonMartinloanedthegrouponeofhisveryfirst
trucksfromhisfleet.
Itiswithgreatsadnessthatthe
Servicerecognizeandrespectthe
untimelydeathofIvorDurhamon
February4thinatragichelicopter
accidentatCessnockAirport
whichalsotookthelifeofanother
youngpilot.
Ivorflewasacasualpilotforthe
ServiceinNewcastlefrom2000to
2007andwasuniversallylikedand
admiredforhisquietprofessional
manner,hissenseofhumourand
hisloveofflying.
Despiteseveralattemptsto
lurehimtoafull-timeposition
withtheServiceIvorchoseto
pursuehisownflyingschooland
charterbusinesswhichhasgrown
tobecomeoneofthepremier
operationsinthestate.
Ivorwasknownthroughoutthe
helicopterindustryinAustraliaas
oneofthemostdecentandhonest
blokesyoucouldeverencounter.
Hislossiskeenlyfeltbyallwho
knewhim.
Ivorissurvivedbyhiswifeandtwo
youngchildren.
Page16 WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011
Tamworth’sEvents with a difference
A‘SegwayCelebrityChallenge’
washeldatTheAtriuminTamworth
recentlyandraised$600.First
placewasRoshaniPriddisaformer
AustralianIdolentrantwhoeasily
beattheboys.SeniorPilotDave
DavieswassecondandPixieJenkins
thecountrymusicfiddleplayer
extraordinaire,placedthird.
TheMiniatureTrainsridesatthe
BotanicalGardenswerevery
successfulwithmanyTamworth
familiesenjoyingadayout.
ThevolunteerscookedaBBQ,
conductedacolouring-in
competitionanda‘landthecoin
onthehelipad’.Thehelipadwas
immersedinadrumofwater.
Senior Pilot Dave Davies with the winners.
Tamworth Volunteer Support Group gain speed
on their train ride
Tea Gardens helipad
Aftermorethan3yearsofworkbytwodedicated
volunteersfromtheBuladelahSupportgroup,theTea
Gardenshelipadwaseventually‘openforbusiness’
inJuly2011.RustySargeantandValBrownworked
closelywiththelocalTeaGardenscommunityto
establishthepadbyraisingfunds,gatheringin-kind
donationsofbuildingmaterialsfromlocalbusinesses
andconvincinglocalstohelpwithconstruction.The
landwasdonatedbuCrightonLifestyleResort.
TheTeaGardensHawksNestcommunityreliesfairly
consistentlyontherescuehelicopterandisappreciative
oftheworkcompleted.Thelocationofthelandingpad
isnowwellknowntolocalemergencyservicesandto
thecrewattheService.Itisanimportantassetforthe
future.CongratulationsandthankstoRustyandValfor
theirtirelessefforts.
At the opening of the
Tea Gardens landing
pad Chief Pilot Mike
de Winton (right) with
Cliff Marsh Chair of
the Board and Rusty
Sargeant, Val Brown
and Rex Sargeant
(Volunteers).
WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011 Page17
From12-18Septemberanational
campaignaboutbequestsis
beingconductedinAustralia.The
Serviceisoneof130charitable
organizationsthathavejoinedan
alliancetoincreasetheawareness
ofAustraliansoftheimportance
ofleavingagiftintheirWills.
WhilstAustraliaisoneofthemost
charitablenationsintheworldonly
7%ofAustraliansleaveabequest
toacharity.Thecampaignwilluse
televisionadsandnewspapersto
helpachieveitsgoal.
TheServicehasbeentherecipientof
anumberofgenerousbequestsover
theyearsthathavehelpedtoprocure
expensiveequipmentlikeaircraftand
facilitieslikehangarsandbuildings.
Aftermakingsurethatfamiliesand
friendsaretakencareofacharitable
giftisagreatwayforeveryday
Australianstoensuretheyleave
alastinglegacywhichwillbenefit
futuregenerations.
Formoreinformationaboutbequests
pleasecontactBarryWaltonin
Tamworthon67649400orPhil
WilliamsintheNewcastleOfficeon
49520000.
Westpac Helicopter’s new website
Include a Charity Week
www.rescuehelicopter.com.au
Ifyou’readonor,ticketbuyerfor
anevent,supporterorvolunteer
pleaselogonasamembersoyou
haveenhancedaccessto:
• MakeDonations
• Registerforanevent
• Lookforthelatesthelicopter
missions
• Checkmediastatements
• Shopformerchandise
• Learnaboutvolunteering
• JointheRescueClub
• FindoutmoreabouttheService
Page18 WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011
Name:..................................................................
Address:..............................................................
............................................ Postcode:...............
Phone:...................Amount Enclosed $...............
Email Address:....................................................
I would like my donation to benefit(pleasetick)
Hunter-CentralCoast-MidNorthCoastService
NewEngland-NorthWestService
Please charge my:(pleasetick)
Mastercard Visa Amex
Amount $......................
Card No: / / /
Exp / CCV
Card Holders Name:............................................
Signature: .......................................... Date:............
Pleasesendyourtaxdeductibledonationto:
WestpacRescueHelicopterService
POBox230,NewLambtonNSW2305
Phone: 1800 155 155
Phone: (02) 4952 0000 Fax: (02) 4952 0055
Email: chopper@rescuehelicopter.com.au
www.rescuehelicopter.com.auYourgeneroussupportishighlyvalued
OperatedbyHunterRegionSLSAHelicopterRescueServiceLtd.A.B.N.40002862026CFN11992
YoucanalsoassisttheWestpacRescueHelicopterServicebydonatingacoupleofdollarseachweekormonthfromyourbankaccount.
Pleasesendmeinformationaboutleavingabequest.
Last3digitsonreversesideofcard
(pleasetick)
Onceonly Monthly
Quarterly Yearly
NoonehaseverpaidtobetransportedbytheWestpac
RescueHelicopterService.
Thatisbecausethiscommunitymakessurethatpatients
aretransportedfreeofchargethroughdonations,
sponsorshipsandsupport.
Everydollarprovidedisvaluableandhelpstoensurethat
theServiceremainsavitalpartoftheemergencycare
chainintheHunter–CentralCoast–MidNorthCoast–
NewEngland–NorthWestregions.
Pleaseconsidermakingadonation.
Can you help?
Motorvehicle,motorbike,andfarmingaccidents
continuetodominatetheworkoftheServiceinthe
NewEnglandNorthWest.Therewerefourconsecutive
accidentsinthefirstweekofMayandtheseincidents
typifytheworkoftheTamworthbasedhelicopter,crew
andparamedics.
AmotorcyclistwasinjuredatBugaldie,locatedbetween
CoonabarabranandBaradineandwastransported
toDubboBaseHospitalwithlowerbackinjuriesand
concussion.Thenextday,thedriverofaNarrabricotton
harvester,whohadearliertippedhismachineand
sufferedaseriouscompoundfractureofhisleftlegwas
takenfromMoreeHospitaltoTamworthBaseHospital.
Twodayslater,a19yearoldmalefromPilligawasburnt
whenlightingafirewithinflammablefuel.Hesuffered
seriousburnstoathirdofhisbodyandwasmovedfrom
WeeWaaHospitaltoTamworthBase.Thenextmission
was30kmfromWalchawherea20yearoldfemale
wasinjuredaftershefellfromherhorseandwastaken
toTamworthBase.Inthethreemonthstotheendof
July2011,theTamworthbasedhelicopterandcrews
undertook36primarymissions,24secondarymissions
and1searchandrescuemissionacrosstheNew
EnglandandNorthWestregion.
AcrosstheHunter,CentralCoast,MidNorthCoastthe
Newcastlebasedhelicopterandcrewsperformedatotal
of161missionsduringtheperiodof1May2011to31
July2011.Ofthese,84weresecondarymissionswhere
patientsweretransportedfromregionalhospitalstothe
JohnHunterHospitalinNewcastle.15ofthesemissions
wereflownfromCoffsHarbourHospital,9fromTaree,
7fromMuswellbrook,6frombothSconeandSingleton,
5fromNelsonBay,3fromPortMacquarie,3from
Cessnock,3fromMaitlandand1eachfromMacksville,
Gloucester,Kempsey,GosfordandWyong.13patients
wereflownfromtheJohnHunterHospitaltohospitals
inSydney.
Formoreinformationaboutmissionsgoto
www.rescuehelicopter.com.au
Mission Brief
WestpacRescueHelicopterService-RescueSpring2011 Page19
Westpac Rescue Helicopter ServiceOperatedbytheHunterRegionSLSAHelicopterRescueServiceLtd.ABN:40002862026
www.rescuehelicopter.com.auTheWestpacRescueHelicopterServiceproducesthisnewsletterRescueasacommunityservicetokeepthecommunity,sponsorsandsupportgroupsandallinterestedpeopleinformedaboutactivitieswithintheService.Everyefforthasbeenmadetoensurethattheinformationcontainedinthisnewsletteriscorrectatthetimeofpublication.ContributionsfrominterestedpeoplearealwayswelcomeandshouldbesubmittedtoPhilWilliams,BusinessManagerattheaddressabove.
New England - North West50BasilBrownDrive Tel:67649400WestdaleNSW2340 Fax:67649411POBox962 Freecall:1800155155TamworthNSW2340
Hunter - Central Coast - Mid North CoastBavinRoad Tel:49520000DistrictPark Fax:49520055BroadmeadowNSW2292 Freecall:1800155155POBox230NewLambtonNSW2305
Toprovidethehigheststandard24houraeromedical,searchandrescueservicefreeofchargeinouroperationalareas.Tovalueourstaffandvolunteersandbefullyaccountabletoourcommunity,ourcorporatepartnersandgovernment.
Our Commitment
Central CoastLevel1FountainPlaza Tel:43639746148-158TheEntranceRoad Fax:43650231ErinaNSW2250 Freecall:1800155155POBox3677ErinaNSW2250
Naming Rights Sponsor
Logo Rights Sponsors
Emergency Service Partners
Community Partners
and the Community