The 32 missions for the May and June timeframe along with the inception of a clinical team consisting of a doctor and paramedic for primary incidents has meant the service is involved in a variety of call outs.

Established in 1975 as a voluntary part time beach patrol in the Newcastle area, the service is also involved in the John Hunter retrieval service relating to hospital transfers.

“Now into its 41st year and with the approaching start of the new AW139 from March next year, the service is gearing up for its ten year contract, which includes Tamworth and Lismore and a new fleet of helicopters that will provide and enhanced increase into its operational role,” he said.

“From the Central Coast to the Queensland border, community based helicopters will provide the clinical needs in the field with the Doctor Paramedic teams backing up the road paramedics.

“We must thank the community for the ongoing support and look forward to the continuation of this support into the future.”

Mr Walton also praised the cooperation between all emergency services personnel in providing a strong community service to the Mid-North Coast.

On call 24 hours, seven days, the service attends an average of 1000 missions each year. It’s role is to provide primary care, attending accident sites, treating and transferring patients to a hospital and secondary care as well as transferring patients between hospitals for specialist treatment.

“We also provide a search and rescue aspect of the role where we help to locate missing people, rescue and return to safety,” he added.

There are 34 Volunteer Support Groups with more than 750 members who live in the many communities that make up our northern NSW region.

“They are tireless fundraisers, event organisers and advocates who help spread the message about the important work of the Rescue Helicopter People,” Mr Walton said.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service was established in 1975 and has grown from a part-time voluntary summer beach patrol to world-class aeromedical search and rescue operation. The original service was created by The Newcastle branch of Surf Life Saving Australia.