Welcome
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter – Ready for Summer !
As the holiday season approaches, and thousands of Australians get ready to enjoy our beautiful beaches and coastline, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is once again ready to watch over you and your family to keep you safe over the busy summer season.
For many of us, the Christmas holiday season will involve spending time with family and friends swimming at the beach, boating on the harbour or fishing off the coastline. As we enjoy these water activities we can rest assured the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter will be there to watch over everyone.
The community is at the heart of everything we do and ensuring coastal safety is paramount to our organisation. Aside from search and rescue missions we will be providing aquatic surveillance along the coast of Sydney, Central Coast and Illawarra region to help prevent incidents patrolling the beaches daily again this Summer. Whilst on patrol, our crew are constantly on the look out for sharks, unattended fishing equipment, swimmers, surfers and marine vessels in distress.
They will be keeping a watchful eye out for any pending dangers – providing a vital layer in Surf Life Saving’s coastal safety network and playing an important role in working with our volunteer surf lifesavers.
The Greater Sydney Region Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service is situated less than 200 metres from the coast, the Helicopter has extremely quick access to the coastal waters and cliffs providing the most responsive service to the community. The crew are on call seven days a week to respond to any search or rescue mission.
Despite delivering this vital community service, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is a not-for-profit organisation. It is a free Service with the sole mission of saving lives.
The Service depends entirely on the generous support of sponsors and the community to stay flying.
Please support your community helicopter …watching over you.
ROTARY CLUB OF LIVERPOOL WEST show their support with a generous donation of $15,000 presented to Tony Wood - Crew Chief on Sunday 15 November 2009
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Above: Jim Rudling (Community Service) and Charles Hlii (President) of the Rotary Club of Liverpool West, present Tony Wood (Crew Chief) with their generous donation.
Members of the Rotary Club of Liverpool West and Cabramatta Rotary with Tony Wood (Crew Chief)
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Above: Peter and Barbara Houghton - Rotary Club of Liverpool West with Trevor Cracknell, Tony Wood, Peter Yates and Tara Johnson
GIVE THE GIFT OF GIVING WITH EVERYDAY HERO GIFT CARDS
Available in over 2200 outlets Australia wide
You can purchase an Everyday Hero Charity Gift Card in $25 or $50 values from most Dick Smith and Australia Post stores or online, and from Woolworths Supermarkets and Big W stores from October 2009. The cards can them be redeemed as a donation to help keep the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service operating.
Community Service Announcement
click here to view our Community Service Announcement
Local wharfies help support Rescue Helicopter Service
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Above: Members of DP World Port Botany Rolling Fund, presented Tony Wood (Crew Chief) with a generous donation of $10,000 for the second year running. The employees were keen to continue their support of this vital community service.
Angel of the Skies runner up for Pride of Australia Medal
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Tara Johnson from the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Crew, Greater Sydney has been named runner up for the Emergency Services award, as part of the annual Pride of Australia Awards 2009- celebrating Australia’s unsung heroes. Tara was present at the NSW award ceremony held at Dolton House, on Tuesday 30 June 2009 where she learnt of her success. Tara was delighted to have been nominated saying "It is fantastic to be recognised and I hope that my nomination will encourage others to volunteer in their local communities" For the first time, this year prideofaustralia™ will also be celebrated on television with a series of four one-hour documentary specials to air on FOXTEL’s Bio. Channel.
Rock Fisherman Rescued
Above - the crew who conducted the rescue, from left to right Rescue Crewman Stewart Bailey, Crew Chief Tony Wood, Mr Dinh Tran and friend and Pilot Tom Booth
Mr Dinh Tran and two friends were fishing at Avoca on Tuesday 2 June 2009. They set out looking to catch the fish of a lifetime, when tragedy struck. Dinh was swept into the ocean by a rogue wave.
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service was tasked to Avoca. On arrival the crew conducted a water rescue winch and plucked Dinh from rough seas.
In the past several months this type of incident has ended in heartache for the families of these rock fisherman.
However, Dinh was extremely prepared for his outing. He had taken on board all the warnings about the dangers of rock fishing and was correctly attired. He was wearing:
- rock fishing cleats
- helmet
- high visibility vest
- but most importantly he was wearing a Life Jacket!
Due to these essential pieces of equipment he was able to go home at night and be with his wife and three sons.
Dinh is to be congratulated on his diligence when participating in the sport of Rock Fishing.
Crew Chief Tony Wood says "if only more people were as meticulous in their approach to rock fishing, then my crew would be celebrating the fact that they had saved more lives as opposed to mourning the loss of yet another life"
Keith Loutit Tilt Shift Video
This was a personal project that would not have been possible without the support of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service. Thanks to the entire team for their generous access during training exercises and patrols this Summer. Since the Service began in 1973, it has carried out more than 21,000 missions ranging from urgent patient transfers to dangerous search and rescue missions.
The time-lapse flight sequences in this film would not be possible without the skill and patience of Chief Pilot Peter Yates. Thanks also to Trevor Cracknell (for getting wet!) and Family.
Music:
“CLEMENTINE” (Megan Washington)
Performed by Washington
© 2008 J Albert & Son Pty Limited
Used with permission
Artist Info @ keithloutit.com
Thank you,
Keith.
Rock Fishing Tips
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter responds to many rock fishing incidents, and unfortunately rock fishing related fatalities, along the NSW coastline.
Crew Chief Tony Wood has issued these very helpful tips to ensure your safety while rock fishing.
- Never fish by yourself – stay in sight of another person fishing
- Inform others of your plans and carry a mobile phone.
- Wear light clothing – it will allow you to swim easily if you are washed in
- Check tides and weather – avoid fishing in dangerous conditions and observe tide changes.
- Wear appropriate footwear – with non-slip soles – and avoid the waters edge.
- Wear a life jacket or PFD and carry safety equipment in case someone should fall in.
- Observe first – fish later – spend time watching the fishing spot before actually fishing
- Plan an escape route – if washed in, stay calm and swim AWAY from the rocks to look for a safe place to come ashore or stay afloat and wait for help
- Don’t ever turn your back on the sea
- Ask advice from locals
IF YOU WITNESS SOMEONE BEING WASHED INTO THE OCEAN, follow the simple steps:
- DO NOT jump in if someone is washed into the water
- Use a rope, Angel Ring close by, something that floats to rescue the person
- Dial 000, or 112, from your mobile or go get help
Above: Nick Kim from Strathfield South
This is one of the success stories we have found through education of rock fishing safety and correct equipment to be worn by rock fisherman.
While on duty Tony Wood (Crew Chief Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service) stopped and spoke with Mr Kim on his return from fishing at Cape Banks (La Perouse) and although it wasn’t a successful day fishing, at least Mr Kim’s family can feel safe in the respect he was wearing all the correct equipment, including: light clothing, cleats and a life jacket.
A national rock fishing safety working group has been established by Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) and includes Surf Life Saving New South Wales (SLSNSW), Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA), the Australian Recreational and Sportfishing Industry Confederation (RecFIsh Australia), the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW (RFANSW) and the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter (Greater Sydney Region)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ROCK FISHING SAFETY, INCLUDING TRANSLATED MATERIAL, MORE FACT SHEETS AND FREE DOWNLOADS VISIT:
'Gone Fishing
'Gone Fishing
Dozens of fishers are swept from the coastal rocks off Sydney by big waves every year. The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service, sick of retrieving dead bodies, say many of these fatalities could be prevented if rock fishers wore life preservers.
Last updated February 5, 2010
