Rodney Westpac staff have been overwhelmed with support for their Westpac Chopper Appeal fundraising events during May, raising $12,192 with money still coming in.

The Warkworth branch has been particularly busy, raising $6,800.  Staff organised a street collection, raffle, barbecue and a 'Hollywood' night at the Bridge House.  This was a red carpet evening with bow ties and glam dresses and even some paparazzi.  Money was raised through ticket sales.  Prizes were supplied by the business community, and organiser Haemia Foote thanks them all.

"Without the wider community support we wouldn't achieve nearly as much.  So on behalf of the 600 or so patients that the Auckland Westpac rescue helicopters transport each year, we thank you very much."

An amazing cake from Matakana Patisserie was auctioned for $200 at the Hollywood event, and ticketing was provided free by Only Concepts.

Westpac's Annual Rescue helicopter appeal is on for the whole of May with collection buckets in the following Beachland shops: Postshop, Meat to Please, Wakelin Road Bakery, Karishma, Pohutukawa's Pharmacy.

There's also a bucket at Whitford store or people can make donations at any Westpac branch.

For the last five years Westpac has run a national Chopper Appeal in an effort to raise money and awareness for New Zealand Rescue Helicopter services.

Westpac Bank is running three fundraising events during May for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust.

On Friday, May 22, there will be a bucket street collection in the Warkworth CBD.  On Friday, May 29, the bank in conjunction with Bridge House, is staging a Dance evening with a red theme at Bridge House.  Entry costs $15 and prizes will be given for best dressed and best dancing.

Sometime towards the end of May the bank will run a trail bike ride in conjunction with Warkworth Motorcycles - venue yet to be decided.

We need about 700 acres and room for parking for 200 cars," spokeswoman Haemia Foote says.  Another need is donations of items for raffles.

Anyone who can help with any of these events should contact Haemia on 425 0843 or haemia_foote@westpac.co.nz.

NZ Hothouse General Manager Simon Watson and Managing Director
Brett Wharfe hand a new 406 beacon over to Crew Chief Herby Barnes.


This week, 20 Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) valued at over $600 each arrived at the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust base in Mechanics Bay, thanks to the generosity of Westpac Rescue Helicopter corporate supporter NZ Hothouse, and the Ullysees motorcycle club.

The funds were raised after ARHT, which relies on sponsorship and donations to survive, made a plea for help to purchase the new 406 beacons, to replace the out-moded 121.5 and 243 beacons.

The PLBs are for use by Auckand Rescue Helicopter crew in the event of an emergency landing or ditching on land or in water. The new technology available with the 406 beacons far outstrips the previous models, with the GPS enabled 406s able to be located once activated to a 452 square metre area, where the 121.5 and 243 models were only locatable to approximately 314 square kilometres. The signal power of the 406s is also 50 times more powerful than the previous models, which means sateillites can locate the beacons and alert Rescue Co-Ordination Centres within five minutes, where it used to be up to 90 minutes.

When the Ullysees motorcycle club, who run a fundraising motorcycle ride annually for ARHT, asked what they could help raise funds for this year, they were asked to put the beacons at the top of the list. Stepping in to foot the rest of the bill was Karaka-based NZ Hothouse, whose Managing Director Brett Wharfe wanted to help the crew with equipment, on top of donating to keep the service operating for over a decade as a valued corporate supporter.

ARHT CEO Rea Wikaira said without organisations like Ullysees and NZ Hothouse, the rescue helicopter would not be able to survive. "We exist year-to-year and rely on our community to help us to remain a highly-equipped, world-class aero-medical and search and rescue service," Mr Wikaira said. "The day that people like Brett, and those who are members of the Ullysees club, decide to stop helping us, is the day we will have to stop operating," he said. "Because of this we are humbled by such gestures of kindness, and extremely grateful."

June 28th 2008 is set to be a red letter day for motorcyclists from around New Zealand as they take part in nationwide rides to raise money for rescue helicopter services and bring attention to the issue of “Cheese Cutter” barriers used as median dividers around the country.

The rides have been organised by members of a web forum www.kiwibiker.co.nz and are being well supported by its members, along with motorcycle shops who are hosting the rides, the rescue helicopter trusts that will benefit from the money raised and other organisations sponsoring the rides with spot prizes for riders taking part.

During the course of the rides, people will not only be encourage to donate money but to sign a petition calling for a moratorium on the installation of Cheese Cutter barriers. Cheese Cutter – www.cheesecutter.co.nz - the Campaign for Safer Barriers - urges the government and Land Transport New Zealand to place an immediate moratorium on the use of such barriers until a comprehensive review is undertaken into the effectiveness and safety of these barriers to all road users, particularly motorcyclists. We believe that the low cost and ease of building, rather than safety considerations, are the main reasons why wire rope median barriers are becoming so widespread and the preferred form of barrier on a range of roads and highways.

In Auckland – Raising money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=73712

In Auckland 9am - Botany Honda
In Tauranga 11:30am - Bayride Motorcycles
In Rotorua 1:00pm - Bike Force
In Hamilton 3:00pm - Boyd Motorcycles
Back to Mechanics Bay, Auckland 5:30pm

In Hawkes Bay - Raising money for the Lowe Walker Rescue Helicopter

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=73292

In Napier 11:00am - Five Star Suzuki

In Manawatu – Raising money for the Square Trust Rescue Helicopter

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=73011

In Palmerston North 10:30am - Phill Turnbulls Motorcycles

In Nelson/Marlborough – Raising money for the Summit Rescue Helicopter

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=73248


Details TBC at this stage

In Canterbury – Raising money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=72979

Meet 10:00am Belfast Pub

By combining theses two issues motorcyclists have the opportunity to say thank you to the heroes of the rescue helicopter services for the wonderful work they do, and to say no to Transit NZ in regard to installation of anymore Cheese Cutter barriers.

For further information please contact

Anne James
09 425 7582
0274 599 925
lizzylane@xtra.co.nz

My most memorable experience on the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was when we picked up Baby Charlotte from Waiheke Island. We got a call there was a baby on the island with suspected meningoccocal disease who needed immediate evacuation. We had no idea how sick this baby was but got a hell of a shock when we first saw her. Her little body was limp and when the paramedic passed her to me to take into the helicopter, I could actually see the purple rash developing on her abdomen. You could see the sense of worry in her father's eyes. It didn't take a genius to see that this was very, very serious and that this baby could lose her life. It wasn't one of the most adrenalin charged missions we undertook but I know that because of the speed we were able to get her to Starship for treatment, she didn't lose her life.

I always wished I had straight hair like the other kids at my school. I had this massive 'fro and was jealous of kids with straight hair. I even considered shaving it all off thinking it would grow back straight. Where were the straightening tongs in the '70s?

I was part of the customs dive team for about four to five years. We checked the hulls of suspect vessels from high-risk countries for any contraband that might have been attached to them. Not very enjoyable diving - always in dark, zero visibility, dirty harbour water. You wouldn't believe what would float past our faces in the water - especially after the weekends.

I can play Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. One Christmas holiday when I was still at college, I broke my leg and was laid up with nothing to do, so I called afriend of the family who was a pipe major and asked if he could give me a few lessons. A few years ago I got my hands on a set of pipes and managed to bang out a decent rendition of Amazing Grace, much to the amazement of my workmates.

At my father's unveiling on our family marae down on the coast, I had the responsibility of acknowledging appreciation to all the hard workers by taking the floor and speaking completely in Maori (I'm not fluent). It was one of the most nerve-wracking moments. I relied on the fact that at least they could see I was trying.

I wish more people would drive slower, especially now that my son is riding his bike to school.

The best advice I have ever received was when I was at Outward Bound as an 18-year-old. We were told that only by pushing our own personal limits do we develop and grow and it is something that I have tried to stay true to ever since and teach by example to my kids.

Who cares about a bit of rain when you can shelter inside the Westpac Rescue Helicopter!


It was a sodden day outside yesterday, but for those who braved the rain and ventured out to the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust open day, the fun to be had at the ARHT Mechanics Bay hangar was worth it!

Kids and their parents braved the weather to get up close and personal with the helicopter, taking the opportunity to get right inside it and look around, and the police dogs proved their hardiness by carrying out a demonstration outside, while spectators stood in the hangar and watched. The rain couldn't even stop people from taking discounted scenic flights with Heli-link, who also occupy the hangar.

Meanwhile, inside there were stacks of indoor activities - the ARHT flight simulator, baby BK chopper rides, colouring in, face painting, paramedic gear on display, sausage sizzle to warm the tum, and the famous ARHT bears on sale too.

To top the day off, children were given goodie bags packed full of goodies from our sponsors.

Staff who volunteer to come and work at the annual public open day always find it very rewarding to be able to give something back to the community who help to keep the Westpac Rescue helicopter in operation.

See you next year!

                      Megan Alatini is a ray of sunshine in Kingan Jones


The rain couldn't keep 140 people away from the Celebrity Fashion Preview, held on Waiheke Island on Sunday by the Waiheke Women's Network, to raise funds for ARHT.

Likewise celebrities Megan Alatini, Greer Robson, Siobhan Marshall, Ben Mitchell, Lana Coc-Kroft, Renee Wright, Kate Woodham, Rodney Hide, Jay-Jay Feeney, and Dom Harvey did not let the weather affect their performance on the catwalk.

Rodney Wayne, Brooke Howard-Smith and personal stylist Jackie O'Fee all provided a witty commentary to the occasion which, together with the auction held after the preview, raised approximately $15,000 for the Trust.

Designers Zambesi, Jane Daniels, Claire Kingan Jones, Helen Cherry, Federation, Elusiv, Sabatini White, Tanya Carlson, Adrian Hailwood, Kate Sylvester, and elite men's boutique RJB Design all provided cutting edge garments for the occasion, held at the gorgeous home of Fred and Leagh King, who run luxury accommodation Matiatia Bay.

There were some amazing auction items up for grabs including a $2000 Interior Design consultation by Neil McLachlan of Changing Rooms and a private movie showing for 30 people at Sky City.

Paintings by Robyn Barclay and Wayne Sinclair were also auctioned, while pampering and luxury were the theme of the day with Rodney Wayne providing makeover vouchers, Lavendar Hill gifting a night's accommodation and dinner at Mudbrick, local dentist Peter Stretton offering a $1000 teeth whitening session, and Matiatia Bay lodge's Leagh King handing over a gorgeous pair of Gold GHDs.

Local vineyards gave generously with dinner at Ridgeview, a bottle of Hawkesby wine, and none other than John Hawkesby himself as guest, wine from Waiheke Winegrowers, and an evening of beauty and jazz at Stonyridge all on the auction list.

Cin Cins donated dinner for two with Champagne, Helen Cherry gifted a designer jacket, Myken Stewart gave two tickets for Fashion Week, Dancing with the stars guru Nerida offered dancing lessons, and a catered picnic at Pie Melon bay was also given.

Even the more outdoorsy types were catered for with two charter fishing trips with Phil Scott and Mark Brown donated.

Behind the scenes help came from Fullers who brought the celebrities over, SeaLink who assisted in getting eqiupment to the Island, goodie bag providers L'Oreal, Jo Malone, and Mamor Chocolates, and Castles function hire who provided the catwalk, chairs and marquees.

Make up and artistry was provided by Mac, while local hair salon Phoenix did the models' hair, and Lion Nathan, Stonyridge Vineyard and Christensen Estate ensured everyone had enough to drink.

Local businesses also fronted up with many prizes for the raffles and Pukeko signs and graphics took care of signage.

ARHT would like to say a big thanks to all of these people for their overwhelming generosity.

Some of New Zealand's best known TV personalities, presenters, models and actresses will be hitting the catwalk in two weeks time, as part of a Fashion Preview fundraiser for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust organised by Waiheke Women's Network.

Dancing with the stars contestants Rodney Hide and Greer Robson will be sharing the limelight with Ben Mitchell from Shortland St, Lana Coc-Kroft, Siobahn Marshall, JJ Feeney, and Megan Alatini at the event at luxury lodge Matiatia Bay.

Organiser Theresa Murphy says she is overwhelmed by the support they've received for the event which previews garments by some of the country's biggest names in fashion.

"It's a great line up and the fashion designers have really got behind us, " she says. "Jane Daniels, Kate Sylvester, Zambesi - there will be something for men and women, and we would really like men to feel welcome at this event," she says.

TV personality Brooke Howard-Smith is co-hosting the show with Jackie O'fee of Signature Style and will be auctioning off some "fantastic prizes".

Tickets ($65) for the afternoon event on Sunday 13 April are available pre-sale only through Theresa on 372 2111, or email theresa@waihekewomensnetwork.co.nz by 9 April.

All proceeds go to Auckland Westpac Helicopter Trust.

The mural Onehunga High School students won a funding grant to have painted outside Westpac Onehunga.


Onehunga High School students who won an Enterprise New Zealand competition with a mural they had painted for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, received their prize money this week and presented ARHT with a framed certificate for being the recipient charity of the competition.

The students were required to put together a proposal to carry out a project for their charity of choice.

In this case, Onehunga High School Students, lead by student Jarrod Smythe, proposed a mural promoting ARHT's new membership scheme on the wall of Westpac Onehugna.

The group came second with their proposal, securing a grant to carry out the project.

The mural now decorates the side wall at Westpac Onehunga and adds to the lively culture of Onehunga town centre, as well as letting people know all about ARHT's new Rescue Rewards membershp scheme.

Crewman Mark Cannell shows some youngsters how to fasten their seatbelts inside the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter


Volunteer and emergency services unite to provide insight into what they do

The Volunteer and Emergency Services open day last weekend saw more than 15 volunteer and emergency services organisations come together at North Harbour Stadium to provide the public with a rare behind the scenes glimpse into their daily roles.

Organisations including the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust,  New Zealand Fire Service, New Zealand Police, Civil Defence, SPCA, Coastguard, Volunteer Fire Brigades, St John Ambulance, Surf Life Saving, and the RNZAF Parachute Unit showcased a series of displays and emergency scenarios.

This year, donations from the event went towards the Burns Support Charitable Trust, a voluntary organisation based at Middlemore Hospital. The Trust works with people suffering from burns to support their rehabilitation back into the community, while also providing awareness and fire safety education. 

A replica of the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter on display at the NZ Model Truck Show.

Truck drivers and model truck enthusiasts from all over New Zealand flocked to the NZ Model Truck Show in Pukekohe at Easter to see miniature versions of the trucks they know and love.

A model replica of the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter also brought home to truckees how often truck drivers are assisted by the helicopter when their trucks are involved in accidents - perhaps the most recent high profile case of this being the Port-a-loo driver, who plunged 150m in his truck after it left the road.
 
The owner of the model helicopter Irwin Wright, was asked to display the model by organisers of the NZ model truck show. His display depicted a paramedic being winched to a truck that had overturned down a bank - a similar scenario to a recent accident the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter attended in the Karangahape Gorge involving a truck vs car.

Architectural Glass Industries NZ Ltd (AGINZ) has recently come on board to help keep the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter running by becoming a tier one sponsor. So look out for the AGI logo on the chopper tail!

Here's some information from AGINZ about their business:

AGINZ was set up and incorporated in late 2007 by Mr Wayne Pascoe, Wayne has been in the NZ glass trade just on 46 years now. His father Robert Alfred Pascoe originally started the Onehunga Glass Company Ltd in 1962, so through the Pascoe generation there is plenty of knowledge and history to be shared amongst staff and customers alike.

Wayne and his family lived in Mangere while he worked for his father at Onehunga Glass in the 70s, and now 38 years later Wayne's company AGINZ is situated in Mangere at 28 Pavilion Drive, Airport Oaks.

Architectural Glass Industries NZ Ltd has been formed to give 100 per cent service to the glass trade, offering all annealed and laminated, clear, tinted, coated and patterned glass, and as of May 2008 will be producing toughened glass to a maximum size of 4.2 X 2440.

AGINZ and staff are proud to be one of ARHT major sponsors for 2008 and certainly see the benefits that the Westpac Helicopter and ARHT team offer to the communities in saving lives. 

To contact AGINZ phone 09 2573232 or email wayne@aginz.com or steve@aginz.com.

Mobile vehicle mechanics Hometune have come on board as sponsors of ARHT, and as well as contributing financially to the Trust to help keep the Auckland  Westpac Rescue Helicopter operating, Hometune have also offered to service the cars of ARHT staff as part of their sponsorship!

Hometune has been servicing motorists for over 28 years and offers a seven day mobile vehicle mechanic service with six teams covering the North Shore, Central City, Eastern Suburbs, West Auckland, South Auckland and Tauranga area. All  technicians are fully qualified and have the expertise and equipment to carry out most jobs right there, on the spot. Hometune also have a workshop at their Mt Eden base which is open six days.

To find out more and book online visit www.hometune.co.nz

Computer Training Company Learnkey have offered sponsorship to the Trust in the form of bringing ARHT staff up to speed in their computer skills.

Although ARHT helicopter crew are highly skilled in their specialised areas, the basic PC can a bit daunting for some of them, so this is a very exciting opportunity for our staff to upskill on the administrative sides of their roles!

Learnkey will be focussing on MCSE certification for the ARHT IT support team plus staff training in Microsoft Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 modules.

LearnKey Computer Training has been operating in the New Zealand education and business markets since 1995. Learnkey training uses multimedia and on-line technology to bring the world’s IT experts to both individuals and corporate learning environments.

As part of its service Learnkey offers to help any organisation deliver innovative, successful and measurable staff professional development.  Tutorials suit all learning styles and individuals can access their expert 24/7 and learn at their own pace via internet or network platforms.

LearnKey are suppliers to tertiary organisations such as Auckland University, Te Wananga Aotearoa, Quality Education, government sector units such as NZ Defence and Environment Bay of Plenty and many other corporate organisations throughout New Zealand and across the Pacific. 

At the moment Learnkey are offering all new business sponsors one month’s free access to their latest Microsoft Office titles! Call 0800 532764 for more information.

or visit their website http://www.learnkey.co.nz/

Prestigious large scale events are about to become a regular feature of Waiheke Island with the help of a new event management company.

Sean Deery and Heidi Altmann, of Island Events Limited, will be organising festivals, concerts. Corporate events, weddings and functions for up to 20,000 people a pop.

“We felt Waiheke was under-utilised because people don’t realize how close it is to Auckland”, Heidi said.

Part of Isola Estates, the company, which is currently organising four events, has also developed relationships with the transport companies to provide a “seamless” experience for those attending, according to Heidi.

The first event to be staged is “Groove in the Vines”, on 15 December, at Isola, on Onetangi Road. Organised in conjunction with George FM, the show’s headlining act has also just clinched the number one spot in the New Zealand charts.

“We don’t want to say any more other than we’re really excited and proud to be associated with this event on Waiheke Island”, said Heidi.

The company is also a proud sponsor of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and plans to donate money from each event they manage to a Waiheke-based charity, she said.

Having recently moved into their new Ostend premises, next door to Pukeko Signs and Graphics, the pair told Waiheke Marketplace they are set up for the busy summer months ahead.

“Downstairs (the premises) looks a bit bare at the moment but it will soon be transformed into a buzzing coffee lounge,” said Heidi.

Island Events plans to organise approximately six large events throughout the calendar year.