THERE are some things in life that you hope you never need and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is one of those things.

On Wednesday night the tireless Nambucca Valley Rotary Club rolled up their sleeves once again and hosted a fundraising evening at the Macksville Ex-Services Club aimed at keeping the vital Westpac Rescue Helicopter in the air.

Attendees were treated to a presentation by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service’s Regional Partnership Officer, Jennifer Dowd, who explained how the integrated network of four AW139 helicopters work and how the service is funded.

News Of The Area spoke to Jennifer Dowd who said, “While NSW Ambulance and NSW Health cover 70 percent of their operating costs, a further 30 percent must come from community fundraising.

“What Rotary are doing here tonight is a great help and we are also very grateful for the Nambucca Valley businesses such as Midcoast Trucks, Express Coach Builders, the Nambucca Valley Council and Unite Advisory, all who have been generous contributors for many years.”

The centrepiece of the evening was a confronting question and answer session by Rotary’s Jillian Ashley with two local men who concede they would not be alive today without the team effort centred around the rescue helicopter.

Mick Green was seriously injured when his motorbike crashed in thick bush and was not able to be reached by conventional ambulances.

Joel Mason was mauled by a shark when surfing near the mouth of the Nambucca River.

Both men provided honest responses when Jillian asked questions about their respective rescues.

In Mick’s situation, he would have been unlikely to recover if he had been carried out to a track or roadway.

In Joel’s case, it was the ability of the helicopter to arrive with blood and then stop en route to Newcastle to take on more blood which made the life and death difference.

Nambucca-based Paramedic Steve Fraser, the coordinator of both of these rescues, was also on hand to provide intimate detail regarding the masterpiece of teamwork that comes together during these rescues.

Former Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew member Graham Nicholson added his personal experiences and those at the event were united in agreement regarding the vital role these aircraft play and how fortunate it is that someone with the experience of Paramedic Steve Fraser is here in the Nambucca Valley.

Thanks to the Nambucca Valley Rotary Club, locals were treated to an informative evening with well over $7000 being raised through donations on entry, raffles and an on-line auction, all supported by a number of generous local businesses, with Trisleys Betta Electrical and Tinks leading the way.

For those who missed the event you are still able to contribute to this vital service by going to https://rescuehelicopter.com.au/donate/.

 

By Mick BIRTLES