Bikers with big hearts converge on Macksville and raise money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Nambucca Valley Nambucca Valley by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 18, 2022November 18, 2022 The Mid North Coast Harley Riders Group at the Star Hotel following Sunday’s Charity Dice Run for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. EARLIER in the month we reported on the intention of the Mid North Coast Harley Riders Group (HOG) to conduct a Dice Run Fundraiser in support of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. True to their word, 76 riders on Harleys and other bikes converged from the north and south at the Star Hotel on the banks of the Nambucca River in Macksville. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au The riders, on big bikes with even bigger hearts, raised over $1,500 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service through registration for the ride, raffles and generous donations from riders. Mid North Coast HOG Activities Officer Justin Owens told News Of The Area, “Some of us have mates who have had road accidents and their lives saved through the work of the Westpac Helicopter Team, there is also the large amount of people they have rescued in times of fire and flood. “We would be in trouble here on the Mid North Coast without the incredible professional service they provide so we raise money for them each year however COVID put a stop to our Dice Runs over the last few years.” Westpac Rescue Helicopter Community Liaison Officer Jennifer Dowd was at the Star Hotel and was presented a cheque for $1500 by the Director of the Mid North Coast HOG, Dennis Pearce. In addition to thanking the group for their fundraising efforts, Jennifer pointed to some sobering statistics regarding rescues. “Between January and October there have been 156 rescues by the Westpac Helicopters over the Clarence Valley-Coffs-Nambucca-Bellingen districts with over 50 of those being motorcycle accidents,” Jennifer said. “The donation from this group is greatly appreciated as, although 70 percent of our funding comes from NSW Health and NSW Ambulance, we still rely on the rest of our funding to come from community fund-raising.” Jennifer also accepted an unexpected donation to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service from the Dialysis Committee of the Nambucca Valley. Julie Crocker from the Dialysis Committee of the Nambucca Valley told News Of The Area, “During the last floods the Westpac Helicopter airlifted one person from Dorrigo and two from Bowraville to Nambucca Heads for vital dialysis.” The Dialysis Committee of the Nambucca Valley has been raising money to provide a dialysis capability for 30 years and expressed their appreciation to the Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service with a donation of $2000. By Mick BIRTLES Westpac Rescue Helicopter Community Liaison Officer Jennifer Dowd receives a cheque for $1500 from Dennis Pearce, Director of the Mid North Coast Harley Riders Group at the Star Hotel following Sunday’s Charity Dice Run. Julie Crocker and Rona Freeman of the the Dialysis Committee of the Nambucca Valley present a cheque for $2000 to Westpac Rescue Helicopter Community Liaison Officer Jennifer Dowd at the Star Hotel on Sunday while MNC HOG members Jim Skinner, Chris Pincombe, Dennis Pearce and Justin Owens look on.
