Keep the lifeline flying

MANY regional residents are accustomed to hearing or seeing the Westpac helicopter in the skies above or near their town.

Unfortunately, the presence of the helicopter indicates that someone is in urgent need of medical care.

Over the past three years, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (the Service) has undertaken more than 65 missions into Gloucester and surrounding areas in response to accidents and other medical emergencies, with the majority of all patients being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital or other major trauma centres.

According to the Service, each mission is undertaken by a highly trained multidisciplinary team of aviation and medical professionals bringing critical care directly to the point of need.

The crew comprises a pilot, aircrew officer, NSW ambulance critical care paramedic and a NSW Health doctor and, sometimes other specialties.

The medical team comprises specialists in emergency pre-hospital and retrieval medicine, intensive care and anaesthetics, and where required, specialist clinicians from services such as the newborn and paediatric emergency transport service.

The teams are extensively trained to manage critical illness and life-threatening injury in challenging emergency environments.

The service partners with the NSW Government through NSW Health and NSW Ambulance, with funding and support also provided by Westpac and other business partners, but it also relies heavily on donations from individuals, and the support of volunteers from local communities.

Gloucester is fortunate to have an active Volunteer Support Group led by President Kevin Arney.

“We moved to the area about ten years ago and we wanted to help the community by doing volunteer work because we are retired,” said Kevin.

“The helicopter service is a very good thing for the community.”

The Gloucester Support Group undertakes a range of fundraising activities throughout the year, including its Trivia Night in March, Golf Day in June, Dinner Auction in September and Toy Raffle in November.

According to Kevin the next fundraising event will be its annual auction at Club Gloucester on Saturday 26 September from 6pm, with a wide variety of donated items being offered for sale.

Tickets for the dinner are available from Gloucester Beta & Flooring.

Like many volunteer organisations, the Gloucester Support Group is always on the lookout for new volunteers to help support its activities and to ensure the group can continue its valuable contribution to the Gloucester community.

“This is a very important service for Gloucester with a lot of motor bikes coming through, and lots of farmers having had accidents with tractors,” added Kevin.

“It’s good to know that if someone has a major accident they can be picked up and in John Hunter Hospital within an hour.”

Anyone wanting more information can contact Kevin on 0437 312 346 or via Facebook.

By John WATTS