Every year the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service of the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, New England and North West attend more than 1200 missions to people in need. More than 1.2 million people live within the regions that are serviced by the helicopters, which are based at Broadmeadow in Newcastle, and at Tamworth Airport.
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rnNo person who is assisted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is required to pay for that service. Fellow citizens, the State Government through NSW Health and the Ambulance Service of NSW provides the funding that enables the Service to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It costs about $11 million a year to keep the three helicopters and crews available to respond when needed. Of this, more than $6.6 million comes from community donations.
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rnAnd that’s where events like the Xstrata Coal Branxton Pro-Am play a huge role in providing the service to the community. The Australian Ladies Professional Golf’s last Pro-Am event for the season raised in excess of $30,000 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. These funds will go towards daily operational needs where a 33% increase in workload over the last 2 years has put significant pressure on the maintenance requirements, fatigue of the operations staff. Plus the falling Aussie dollar also increases the pressure as parts for the helicopters are paid for in US dollars.
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rnGeneral Manger of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Richard Jones said, “The service is now operating three twin engine helicopter’s so costs have increased significantly. Plus, we have just brought on line our new administration building in Newcastle, which came about as a result of the June ‘07 (Pasha Bulker) floods. We are also awaiting a DA to be approved by Tamworth Regional Council for a new 2million development on Tamworth airport site, which is a condition of our State Health Department contract.”
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rnAsked about the Branxton Pro-Am he added, “It’s just a great event. For a community of this size to raise that amount of money is just brilliant.”
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rnTournament organiser Mick Watson said, “The Westpac Helicopter service is an integral part of our community. Lives depend on them being operational. We&aposre proud to support them”
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