The annual Voice for Mining Family Day at McDonald Jones Stadium on July 20 was truly a show of some of the Hunter’s best. Mining, family, the Knights and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS).
The WRHS service was thrilled to be the Official Charity Partner for the day with the 50/50 Charity Raffle. Just over $16,000 was raised with half going to the Service and the other half raffled off to one lucky supporter at the game.
High-vis flooded into the stadium to watch the Newcastle Knights men’s and women’s side take on the New Zealand Warriors, and the 21,000 fans heard about the incredible, life-saving work of the WRHS.
Norma Burri, WRHS Regional Partnerships Officer said it was great to see so many people support mining and the Service.
“It was great to see so many people out in the high-vis jackets and lots of recognition of how our industry contributes to our region!
“It was a privilege to be the Official Charity Partner of the day as well as it gave us the opportunity not only to raise money but share how crucial the Service is to the mining region.
“The Knights got a brilliant win in the NRLW against the Warriors, and the last seconds of the men’s game had us all on the edge of our seats… but it wasn’t to be and they suffered the loss on the day.
“Despite the men’s loss, the day was a great celebration of the important role played by both the mining industry and the Knights in our community,” Norma said.
50 YEARS OF MISSIONS AND GROWTH
To celebrate 50 years of the WRHS saving lives right across Northern NSW, the Service has been sharing stories of rescue missions, its crew, communities and the growth the Service has seen over the years.
One of the big milestones for the Service was the first purpose-built base at Lake Macquarie airport. Built in 2017, the base was designed to meet the requirements of a new 10-year contract with NSW Ambulance.
Once the base was operational, the impact was immediate. Operations became more streamlined, response times improved, and the community received faster, more efficient service.
The Belmont base not only elevated service delivery – it set a new benchmark for what the Service could achieve. It was the pinnacle of two to three years of intense planning, dedication and collaboration across every part of the Service. From frontline crew to back-office support, everyone had a hand in making the vision a reality. Today, it stands as a symbol of progress, partnership, and a deep commitment to providing critical care across the region.
| For more stories on the 50th year of the WRHS, head to rescuehelicopter.com.au |
