Back to: 2009 Archive media releases

5 January 2007

Another 'Eye In The Sky' Means Safer Beaches For Sydney

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter will provide additional protection for Sydney's beachgoers during January in a move that sees the service returning to one of its original roles of beach patrolling and shark spotting.

The move follows the NSW Government's decision late last year to award the tender for aero-medical rescue and retrieval services to an overseas-based, commercial company.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter's existing contract with the NSW Ambulance Service expires in May 2007, after which time it will provide a new rescue service focused on water safety, surf rescue, beach patrols and other areas of community need.

In the meantime, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) CEO, Brett Williamson OAM, said that with the support of Westpac, the helicopters will provide shark-spotting and beach patrol services on weekends and public holidays until 28 January 2007.

"With our surveys telling us that more people are intending to go to the beach this summer, and increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, we are delighted that Sydney's Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter will be able to provide this vital community service," he said.

Doug Menzies, CEO of Sydney's Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter said "We have been providing a rescue helicopter service to the NSW community for 34-years and will carry on doing so by continuing to undertake aquatic rescue and surveillance services and we look forward to a long-term relationship with the Ambulance Service of NSW."

Westpac Head of Community Involvement, Samantha Brown, said: "As a long term supporter of rescue services across Australia we are committed to continuing our support of these vital community services."

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, Australia's first helicopter and surveillance service, began in Sydney in 1973 with a team of 28 surf lifesavers who would be dropped or winched into the sea to rescue swimmers and who also provided the most effective form of shark spotting.

Since that time the service has carried out more than 21,000 missions, thanks to the support of Westpac and community-based fundraising.

During the coming weeks, the helicopter will patrol from the National Park in the south to Palm Beach in the north for a patrol between 10.00am in the morning until 4.00pm in the evening depending on conditions, and will continue to meet its existing obligations to the NSW Ambulance Service to be on call at all other times.

Representatives from Westpac, the Helicopter Rescue Service and SLSA are currently assessing a range of operational options for the service once the current contract with the NSW Ambulance Service expires in May 2007.