{"id":151363,"date":"2016-07-11T19:48:44","date_gmt":"2016-07-11T09:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=151363"},"modified":"2020-10-10T12:51:55","modified_gmt":"2020-10-10T02:51:55","slug":"new-name-for-chopper-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/07\/11\/new-name-for-chopper-service\/","title":{"rendered":"New Name For Chopper Service"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Three of LifeFlight’s new AW139 helicopters fly over Brisbane on Monday (Photo: LifeFlight)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 11, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

RACQ CareFlight helicopters will no longer be flying their life-saving missions into the South Burnett … but there’s no need to panic! From this week, they’ll be known as LifeFlight helicopters instead.<\/p>\n

Chairman Rob Borbidge made the announcement in Brisbane on Monday, saying the new name reflected a renewal phase for the company which is celebrating its 35th birthday this year.<\/p>\n

However, he was quick to assure Queenslanders the change was in name only.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s business as usual today at LifeFlight,\u201d Mr Borbidge said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe change of name is also necessary to reduce confusion in the community and the market place with CareFlight NSW, which started around the same time as us, but which is a totally separate organisation and different charity from CareFlight Queensland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Borbidge was joined at the announcement by CEO Ashley van de Velde who started as an aircrewman with the Gold Coast Helicopter Rescue Service in 1981.<\/p>\n

He said LifeFlight\u2019s great partnerships with Queensland communities, especially in regional and rural areas, would remain and the organisation would continue to work closely with all of its partners \u2013 including long-time naming rights partner RACQ \u2013 to save lives … anyone, anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n

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