newsletter - Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust

Chopperchat
June 2009
Become a member of Rescue Rewards. Go to www.4rescue.org.nz or phone 0800 4 RESCUE
This year, we (and I suspect many other
charitable organisations) need every
advantage we can get
to help draw attention to
ourselves and assist in
raising those dollars that
are so badly needed to
keep us in the air, doing
our job. With that in mind,
we hope you’ve had
the opportunity to view the new television
series ‘Rescue 1’, which features the ARHT
team and highlights the varied range of
rescue missions that your rescue helicopter
responds to. It’s screening on TV2, Thursdays
at 7:30pm, and was made during the recent
busy summer season. The show provides
a wonderful insight as to how missions
unfold. We hope you enjoy the show and in
turn gain some perspective of how we and
other emergency services function as well as
seeing exactly what your support enables us
to achieve.
I am pleased to announce that the Board has
formally appointed Bob Parkinson as CEO.
Bob has done an outstanding job in an acting
capacity over the past eight months and the
Board are delighted that he has agreed to
make this a permanent appointment. I thank
you for reading my comments in each issue
of Chopper Chat (and trust that it hasn’t
served to cure your insomnia!) - from next
issue I hand over the privilege to Bob.
Finally, as we reach the middle of the year
with its short days and the likely inclement
weather conditions, we again remind you to
take extra care on our roads and waterways.
Take care.
Murray Bolton, Chairman, ARHT.
Waiheke Garden Party Fundraiser an
Outstanding Success
The weather was stunning, the views breathtaking, the wine and cuisine delectable and the company outstanding.
You couldn’t have asked for a better
combination at the Westpac Rescue
Helicopter Trust Garden Party held at
Fenton Estate at the end of March.
Paul Holmes MC’d the event, and
interviewed celebrity guest, Prime
Minister John Key, who entertained
the 200 plus attendees with a relaxed
and informal speech. John Hawkesby
was also on hand to entertain and elucidate with his renowned knowledge of food
and wine combinations. A fundraising auction was held of various donated products later in the afternoon. The event, which was organised by Theresa Murphy of
Waiheke Women’s Network, raised over $60,000 for the Trust.
Welcome aboard
ARHT is thrillled to announce that Hirepool has extended
its support to that of Major Sponsor. The Trust has had a
long relationship with Hirepool, who in 2006, designed,
produced and gifted the trailer that is used to house and
transport the ARHT flight simulator. In addition, the various
events that we host over the course of each year are always
so much easier to manage - and sometimes only possible
- due to the extraordinary help and support of the Hirepool
staff and equipment, who always step up (sometimes at
unforgivably short notice!) with a smile and get the job
done over and above our expectations. ARHT is proud to
welcome the Hirepool team and look forward to many years
of association - Thanks guys.
Missed an episode of Rescue 1 ?
No problem. Thanks to TVNZ’s awesome
ondemand service, you can view missed episodes
and catch previews of what’s to come.
Just go to:
http://tvnzondemand.co.nz/content/rescue_1_ep1/ondemand_video_skin
Coromandel Coin-box Kings!
While getting out-and-about is a part of the regular routine for our
helicopter crew, a day out of the office for our busy donation support
staff is a far less frequent occurrence. However, towards the end
of last year, Michelle and Natalie set a day aside to catch-up with
some of the businesses in the
Thames/Coromandel area that
help raise extra support for us
by having Auckland Rescue
Helicopter Trust Collection
Boxes on their premises. With a
few laughs along the way, they
Natalie, Maunsell, Shellie - Goldmine Thames
caught up with our fantastic
bunch of coin-box supporters
bu
– some for the first time – and
had the chance to personally
ha
thank them for their efforts.
th
AARHT says a big THANK YOU
to all the businesses scattered
throughout our coverage area
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for helping out by having a coin
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box on their premises – we do appreciate the time and trouble taken
to manage and collect the funds on our behalf.
To date, you have all helped us to raise over $15,000 – that’s a huge
achievement - and we ask you to pass on our gratitude to your staff,
customers and colleagues that have shown their support of your
business… and ours. If you can help us by having a coin box on your
counter, please call Michelle on 09 950 7203 – she’d love to hear from
you.
ARHT Team Member
PROFILE
Name: Darryl Sherwin
(aka Dazza) - Pilot
Age: 40 something years
of age
History: For 11 years
during 1979-1990 I
worked for Telecom as a
linesman. I then trained
to be a helicopter pilot,
which resulted in me flying in New Zealand,
Papua New Guinea and as a co-pilot at the
Maui Gas Field on a Bell 212. I have flown for
Airwork (including the Westpac Rescue BK117
when it was leased), St John & Police (Eagle)
until joining the Auckland Rescue Helicopter
Trust fulltime in 2006.
Teamwork: We work closely together with
each other as team work is paramount for the
safety of the operation.
Best Part of the Job: Flying to remote locations
and assisting those in need of help. It’s the
coolest thing hearing the sound of a helicopter
turning up when you’re in trouble - It’s
happened to me twice... years before I started
flying helicopters.
Family: I have two kids – Joshua 15 yrs &
Sara 11 ½ years, plus Chopper the cat 15 ½
years & our dog Zoie 15 ½ years old.
Spare Time: I like to spend as much time
as I can with my kids, taking them to do any
outdoor stuff we can. Lately I have been
teaching Joshua to learn to drive. Every year
I go to the South Island west coast with my
mates to go white baiting & fishing.
The Auckland Rescue
really taken
inception late
their rescue
if they are
them back
benefits
our spon-
2009 Ulysses Annual Motorcycle Ride
Another Great Success
In March this year, the Auckland Ulysses club held its 14th annual Charity
Motorcycle Ride, once again raising badly-needed funds for ARHT.
A beautifully clear summer’s morning greeted the riders as they amassed
at the NZ Bloodstock Centre in Karaka ready for the 9am ride start. The
ride would take them into Queen Street, Auckland City, via the Southern
Motorway, then across the Harbour Bridge and finally into the Akoranga
Drive AUT campus car park.
Estimates put the number of riders at well over a thousand, and this
years funds raised through the sale of badges, tee-shirts and online ride
sponsorships was in excess of twelve thousand dollars. This was yet
another awesome achievement and a fine reflection of the hard work
and commitment shown each year by the Ulysses club members and
their event sponsors, Kiwirider, Motomail, RJays, Radio Hauraki and John
Baker Insurance. This year’s funds will help with the provision of a ‘Tango
5’ support car, which is used to respond to medical emergencies in the
immediate Mechanics Bay area (in support of St John Ambulance when
needed) as well as various other helicopter operational duties.
HEY KIDS!!
CHOPPER CHAT COLOURING-IN COMPETITION!
Want to win a pack of assorted helicopter goodies? It’s easy! Just go
to www.rescuehelicopter.org.nz and download and print out the picture
of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, colour it in, fill in the details and send
it to us. Entries to be received by 5pm on Friday August 28th 2009.
Winner chosen on 31/08/09 by the duty crew and will be notified by
email and phone.
Helicopter Trust membership scheme, Rescue Rewards, has
off (sorry about the pun... couldn’t help myself) since its
in 2007. Already there are over 16,000 people getting behind
helicopter and at the same time safe in the knowledge that
taken ill or suffer an accident whilst out of town, we’ll get
to the hospital closest to their home. And we’ve got more
planned for down the track; we’ve been talking with some of
sors and they’re keen to get in behind Rescue Rewards so we’ll
hopefully be in a position soon to add more great reasons why you
should join!
If you’d like further information simply call us on 0800 4RESCUE (0800
4737283) or visit the Rescue Rewards website at www.4rescue.org.nz
Rescue Rewards
Come to the rescue...
Dave & Paula’s ‘Big Day’ for ARHT!
When Dave Scott and Paula Johnston were planning their wedding, they
happened across a newspaper report about a Westpac Rescue Helicopter
mission, within which mention was made of the continuing struggle to
fund the service. “We have pretty much all we need so decided that,
in lieu of gifts, we’d ask our wedding guests to chip-in with a donation
to ARHT” say’s Dave, who owns a successful building company. “There
must be plenty of other couples ‘tying the knot’ at a stage in their lives
where they don’t have a need for presents, and we think this is a great
way to help out such a vital service.”
The weather on the day was perfect for the beautiful occasion, and in
excess of $2000 was raised for ARHT. We’d like to thank Mr and Mrs
Scott and their family and friends, and know they’ll enjoy an awesome
future together. And Paula has the last word: “Let’s hope this encourages
others to do likewise - we’ve started the ball rolling... so let’s see if someone can do even better!”
dont forget...
RESCUE 1 - THURSDAYS - 7:30PM - TV2!!
Heli-Hardware: Portable defibrillator/monitor
ARHT recently took delivery of a new Corpuls3 portable defibrillator/monitoring device - an
impressive and much-needed update to our heavier, older-technology unit. The Corpuls3
is connected to the patient via sensor pads and provides the ability to monitor a range of
important data that reflect the patient’s status. A graphic print-out can be produced if needed
and can even be sent, thanks to the inbuilt mobile data/fax transmission ability, to the
destination hospital to help
the receiving clinicians plan
the appropriate treatment
and thereby saving valuable
time.
The unit is modular in
design and can be separated
into three self-powered
components if the situation
dictates:
The defibrillator - that’s the
unit that delivers the ‘shock’
to aid in heart attacks etc.
The monitoring unit - an E.C.G. (electrocardiography records electrical activity of the heart), measures blood pressure (BP), blood oxygen (SpO2)
and exhales carbon dioxide (EtCO2). This is the ‘patient’ unit – it receives and processes all the input data and sends it to the display unit.
The display/control unit – wirelessly receives and displays the data from the E.C.G. and is the ‘control centre’ which can be located in a position
for best visibility and access as required.
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New Engineer Bear for 2009!
Engineer bear is the latest addition to the ARHT
fundraiser teddy bear collection, following on from
past successes such as Diver, Winchman, Nurse,
Pilot and Crew-chief bears... to name just a few.
Our stock of previous bears is all but exhausted
with very low numbers of 2008’s limited edition
‘Patient Bear’ left, so if you don’t have him in
your collection then please act fast... because
they won’t last. Our bears have always been
popular with our supporters, and make excellent
birthday gifts... or if you just want to put a smile
on someone’s face! Call us on 09 9507204 if you
need the bear facts...
Oops.... in the last issue of Chopper Chat we mentioned the ‘Outdoor
Boating Club’. It should have read the Outboard Boating Club, which
of course makes much more sense... (how many indoor boating clubs
are there?). Temporary Insanity is a pathetic defence ... but it’s the
best we have. Sorry OBC!
2003
700
Westpac
Business
Banking Unit
organised a
corporate golf
tournament
at the
Remuera Golf Club during February. With
a stunning display of tiger proportions,
the business team, headed by Ian Blair
(GM - Business Banking), achieved an
outstanding result with over $50,000
being raised for the Trust. A huge
thank you goes to all the participants
and of course to Westpac Bank for
getting into the swing of things!
Accident
Medical
Search & Rescue
National Transfer
Child Transfer
2008
ARHT 5 Year Mission Breakdown
600
13%
500
1%
3%
400
300
200
100
44%
39%
0
The graphics above show the number and
Chopper Chat Is Made Possible With The Help Of The Following Sponsors:
type of missions carried out over the last five
years and clearly show the steadily increasing
workload. We couldn’t do it without your
support - thank you!
Westpac Rescue Helicopter
Supporter Products
Hangar Happenings...
Herby receives donation from Hugo Percy for Coromandel
Mussel Festival
Please make all cheques payable to
Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust
All enquires ph 09 950 7204 or
email [email protected]
Price
Engineer Bear
$40.00
Patient Bear
$40.00
Quantity
Total
...and become
r.
Baseball cap
$25.00
Total items and payment
HT
at the recent AR
Kids colouring-in
ay
-d
en
op
public
First Name
Last Name
Phone
Mobile
Email
Street Address
Suburb
City
Payment Method
Cheque
Visa
Diners
Amex
Mastercard
Name on card
Expiry date
Signed
Total amount included
Post to Freepost 137292, ARHT, P.O Box 2252, Shortland St, Auckland, 1140
or place in Freepost envelope provided.
You can pay by internet banking if you prefer - please call us on 09
950 7204 to discuss - we’ll give you the bank account details plus a
reference so that we can reconcile your payment.
The camera’s ne
ver far away...
cut here
Remember
In an Emergency dial
111
ARHT’s Major Sponsors are:
Want
ant to receive Chopper Chat b
by
y em
email?
mail
aiil?
If so, simply send an email to [email protected] being
careful to type the address exactly as above. You will receive an email
confirming your wish to subscribe (necessary to avoid SPAM), and further
confirmation when completed. Once subscribed, you can unsubscribe at
any time. Being able to email each issue to you saves money and trees!
At the end of 2009 we will draw an email address from those registered,
with the winner being invited down to our Mechanics Bay base for a
personal tour and morning tea with the helicopter crew!!
Bequesting: Your Legacy... for Life.
One way that you may like to consider helping ensure the
continued survival of the Rescue Service, is by leaving a
bequest in your Will. A bequest is a thoughtful way in which to
carry on giving even after you are no longer here. If you would
like further information then please phone, in confidence,
Kerrie Spicer on (09) 9507209
www.rescuehelicopter.org.nz
Ph: 09 309 6893 Fax: 09 309 2122