Attending everything from farming accidents to golf cart crashes, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is one of the Hunter region’s most vital organisations.
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Each year the service undertakes more than 1000 missions across the Hunter, Central Coast, New England, north-west, central west and mid-north coast regions of New South Wales.
No-one has ever paid to be airlifted by the service – and it’s all due to community support.
A five-day event at Cessnock Golf Club next month aims to raise $10,000 for the service.
The Whitelaw McDonald Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Golf Championships will take place from March 6 to 10.
With the mineworkers golf championships no longer being held in Cessnock after more than 20 years, the organiser of the new event, Peter Fisher, hopes it will fill the gap and become the town’s major annual fundraiser for the helicopter.
The championships will kick off on Monday, March 6 with an open bowls fours competition, followed by a ladies’ competition on the Tuesday, veterans on the Wednesday, an 18-hole stroke play on the Thursday and wraps up with the four-person ambrose championship on the Friday.
A dinner with rugby league coach and journalist Roy Masters will be held on the Wednesday night.
Mr Fisher said the rescue helicopter is an important service to the Cessnock region with our proximity to the mines, and that he hopes the community will support the event.
“We’re hoping for a good turnout, and it’s open to everyone,” he said.
“It’s a worthwhile cause; it will be a good week of fun and raising money.”
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service chief executive officer Richard Jones said the service has relied on community fundraising for every one of its 40 years of operation.
“It is this fundraising that means we can continue to deliver a free-of-charge service to the communities in which we operate,” he said.
“The communities have seen how rapid retrieval of the sick and injured, and delivering paramedics and doctors to the scene of a major accident, can greatly assist those people.
“As we move into a new 10-year contract with brand new aircraft, the continued support of our communities is even more vital.
“We hope no one ever needs the rescue helicopter, but because of the efforts of many, the service will be there when you need it.”
Sponsors are still being sought for the golf championships, with packages from $100 to $500. Anyone who can help can contact Peter Fisher on 0488 902 349 or email peterfisher56@yahoo.com.au.
Player registrations are due by February 22. Entry forms are available at the golf club on 4990 1633.
