The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) wouldn’t be the world-class service it is today without the generosity and backing of businesses and local communities across the regions it serves.
For the mining communities across Newcastle, the Hunter and northwest NSW, the importance of the WRHS isn’t lost on them. Having access to a service that provides primary healthcare not found in regional and rural NSW is crucial.
Bengalla Mining Company is the latest business to have its logo emblazoned on the tail of the WRHS, a symbol of their ongoing support to help keep the helicopter in the air for those who need it most.
WRHS Head of Community Engagement Richard Jones said it’s those mining communities who find themselves the furthest away from specialist care.
“The late Bob Purser always used to say that while mining started around Lake Macquarie, as it’s moved further up the Valley and now into the Gunnedah Basin it was the miners who were the first ones to realise that they were also getting further away from primary healthcare.
“Bengalla has supported the Service for many years. 20 years ago, you would walk in their front door and see a tin on the reception desk collecting money to go towards keeping the helicopter in the air,” Richard said.
“You can’t go anywhere in the Upper Hunter without seeing the genuine support of Bengalla. Whether it’s at the Upper Hunter Show, sponsoring a sporting group or community organisation.
“It’s not only financial support, we see those Bengalla shirts out and about in the community with their employees giving a helping hand whenever its needed.”
Bengalla CHPP Manager Russell Hartin has been at Bengalla for 25 years and said the support the helicopter provides is invaluable.
“To see our logo on the helicopter means so much. We started discussions 12 months ago about this commitment and we are so proud as a business to say that we are on that machine.
“The importance of the service isn’t lost on us. We had to use the helicopter at Bengalla once. I was there that day when they came to retrieve a patient and we will never forget that day and the quick response,” Russell said.
Further to that Cam Halfpenny, General Manger Bengalla Mining Company said, “The WRHS is very important for regional communities across NSW and Bengalla and we are proud and honoured to be able to provide our support to them.
“We have a very strong partnership that we treasure.”
