{"id":37604,"date":"2013-07-02T12:22:56","date_gmt":"2013-07-02T02:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=37604"},"modified":"2020-12-14T16:42:33","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T06:42:33","slug":"rescuechopper-services-merge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/07\/02\/rescuechopper-services-merge\/","title":{"rendered":"Rescue Chopper Services Merge"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service has merged with CareFlight \u00a0(Photo: RACQ CareFlight)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
CRISIS Raised
\n$400,000 For
\nChopper Service<\/strong>It is not known as yet if the merger will have any impact on the fundraising efforts of CRISIS \u2013 the Country Rescue Income Support Improvement Scheme.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The CRISIS committee, based in Murgon, has been raising funds to help support the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service since April 1994.<\/p>\n

Over the years, an estimated $400,000 has been funnelled to the service via local fund-raising efforts in the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

Former Murgon Deputy Mayor Raelene Dennis took over as head of the group recently following the retirement of long-time president Irma Close.<\/p>\n

Mrs Dennis said\u00a0she had been told about the new RACQ sponsorship agreement, but had heard nothing as yet about the merger of the two groups.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

July 2, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s announcement that the RACQ had taken over naming rights for the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service comes the news the service will merge with CareFlight Group Queensland.<\/p>\n

Former Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge has been appointed chairman of the new group.<\/p>\n

He said today the decision was “powered by a mutual desire to improve patient outcomes and maximise the delivery of lifesaving services to Southern and Central Queenslanders”.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am pleased to confirm the merger became official with the new financial year and to announce the two not-for-profit companies will move forward hand-in-hand under the banner of CareFlight Group Queensland,\u201d Mr Borbidge said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to know we enter this union as equals. Our members, and perhaps more significantly the new Board of Directors, has been created with equal representation from the two original companies.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt our inaugural board meeting less than 24 hours ago, it was determined (former Careflight chairman) Ashley van de Velde would lead this new entity as Chief Executive Officer, with (former Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service chairman) David Donaldson to take-up the newly appointed position of Executive Director Flight Operations \u2013 Community, overseeing four community helicopter bases.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two not-for-profit services formally began investigating the benefits of aligning their organisations in January this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously there were a lot of issues to work through but providing a sustainable future for community run helicopters and focusing on job security for all our staff were guiding principles in making this landmark decision,\u201d Mr van de Velde said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs charities, we\u2019ve had to rely on renewed contracts and the ability to fundraise millions of dollars to continue our lifesaving work.<\/p>\n

“This has long been an issue for both operations. But we believe our rescue services are made stronger and more resilient through this union, and crucially, that means a renewed ability to focus on providing the highest emergency medical and rescue air-retrieval operation, not just in Queensland but Australia wide.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two companies bring a combined 66 years of experience in helicopter search and rescue operations to the parent group.<\/p>\n

The Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (which has been known recently as the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter) is the State\u2019s longest running community rescue helicopter. It saved its first patient in 1979.<\/strong><\/p>\n

CareFlight (then Gold Coast Helicopter Rescue Service) launched its operations in December 1981.<\/p>\n

\u201cThirty-two years ago SCHRS actually underwrote the first Gold Coast rescue helicopter which flew under the Sunshine Coast\u2019s Air Operators Certificate in its first year,\u201d outgoing SCHRS chairman Don Moffatt said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it seems natural that we come together again now to become the largest community based rescue helicopter service in the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Rescue helicopters will continue to operate out of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Toowoomba and Bundaberg under the new merged organisation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoving forward our combined fleet of rescue helicopters will be known as RACQ CareFlight, thanks to the merger and, of course, yesterday\u2019s exciting announcement that RACQ had come on board as naming rights sponsor for SCHRS,\u201d Mr Donaldson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that all means the communities within our primary response zone can enjoy the same level of protection, but with significant improvements.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, just like any motor vehicle, there are times when these multi-million dollar machines need to be brought in for maintenance. With the broader expertise of our engineers working together it means each helicopter will be back in service sooner.<\/p>\n

“It will also allow us to cover any downtime with a broader fleet of back up aircraft, ensuring we remain in the air and saving lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The long-term sustainability of the merged entity also means job security for staff and the opportunity to advance within a much larger organisation.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo jobs will be lost in the merger process and the coming together of both companies provides opportunities for career expansion,\u201d Mr van de Velde said.<\/p>\n

Mr Borbidge said there were still many decisions to be made over the coming months, and even years.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut from the outset both organisations were determined to be guided by a mutual desire for constant innovation in the delivery of patient treatment and outcomes,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that will certainly remain as we carve out our future together.\u201d<\/p>\n

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CareFlight Group Queensland Chairman Rob Borbidge and CEO\u00a0Ashley van de Velde<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Health Minister Lawrence Springborg at today’s announcement at Maroochydore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has congratulated the two organisations on their merger.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBoth organisations have a long and proud history built on a tradition of community fundraising and sponsorship,\u201d Mr Springborg said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue and CareFlight Group Queensland have always worked together.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach is contracted by the government to look after specific regions of Queensland and this will not change.<\/p>\n

\u201cFundraising and community engagement based on local representation is a key part of the community model, which has proven successful over many years.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatients will benefit from the improved capacity and co-ordinated response of the combined organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n

[UPDATED]<\/strong><\/p>\n

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