HVO STAFF SUPPORT FOR WESTPAC RESCUE HELICOPTER SERVICE HITS $1M

Coal operator Dave Madden has been donating to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service since the day he started at HVO, 18 years ago.

At a recent company training day, Dave accepted a plaque on behalf of all HVO staff who donate to the service from its Upper Hunter regional partnerships manager Danny Eather.

Dave said he supports the service just in case one of his family members or friends got sick and need the helicopter. He knows people who have been helped by the service.

“It’s a quick service to get to the John Hunter Hospital or other hospitals so that lives can be saved,” Dave said. 

“When you hear it flying above, you own it because you support it. You hear that helicopter and go ‘I can save someone’s life because I am supporting it’.” 

Over the past 20 years, David and other HVO staff have donated $1million to the helicopter service.

Danny said the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is very grateful for the long-term support from HVO staff and additional support it receives from the company. He said every dollar staff contribute ensures that the service can be there 24/7 for the community.

“Every contribution makes a huge difference in keeping our helicopters flying,” Danny said. 

“The impact of that support ultimately keeps friends and families here with us. It improves outcomes for people when they have an accident or injury,” he said.

“Companies like HVO and the wider mining industry have been the backbone of support for our service. Workplace Giving got us through COVID. The support of the industry is just incredible.”

In the last financial year, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service completed just under 1,500 missions across Northern NSW, 70 in the Upper Hunter. It costs $4,500 an hour just to fly the helicopters.

Under HVO’s workplace giving program, staff can have automatic donations made from their pay to Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service or other charities. 

HVO general manager Tony Morris said it is the efforts of employees and their voluntary contributions which has funded the partnership.

“We see the value that Westpac Rescue Helicopter provides the community.”