Northern Region Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter

Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [11.51 a.m.]: I acknowledge and commend the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service for its 25 years of dedicated service to the Northern Rivers region. The helicopter has flown more than 5,200 life-saving missions. It operates a 24-hour service 365 days a year at a cost, which is covered by the community and the Government, of $4.5 million annually. I congratulate the chairman of the northern branch of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, Warren Tozer, his employees and the volunteers on their work and their support for the service. I am sure that it will operate for another 25 years.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service is celebrating an historic milestone: its twenty-fifth anniversary. The service recently held a Simply Silver gala ball to celebrate this anniversary. Sadly, I could not attend the ball due to an illness in the family, but I know that it was a tremendous success and guests had an outstanding night. The ball was also a major fundraiser for the helicopter service, which receives support from across the Northern Rivers area. I had the honour of serving as director of the service before my election to this place to represent the electorate of Lismore. I have no fear in saying that it is one of the most professionally run boards of all the helicopter services in New South Wales. When I joined the board it was led by the late Hon. Bruce Duncan, who also represented the electorate of Lismore in this place. His record is well and truly documented. Bruce and the late Harold Fredericks ensured that the service had the necessary funding in its early years by encouraging community support.

Perry Wells has been the General Manager of the Northern Region Surf Life Saving Australia Helicopter Rescue Service Pty Limited for a number of years. At the recent launch of the third helicopter Perry announced that he would be standing down from that post. I pay tribute to Perry and his wife, Carol, who have been devoted to the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service. During his time as general manager the service has evolved from using a rented helicopter to having three helicopters, the third of which was launched recently. That is how the service has grown.

However, the people of the Northern Rivers and I would like to see the service expanded even further to Coffs Harbour in order to meet growing demand in the area. The hardworking committee at Coffs Harbour has been trying to convince the Government to extend the health contract to enable a helicopter to be based at the city to cover a black spot—for want of a better description—from Newcastle, which has its own service, and Lismore. A black spot has been identified in that area and the community and the organisation are seeking government support to expand the service to Coffs Harbour. I fully endorse that plan, which I ask the Government to reconsider.