Tenterfield Bowling Club director Greg Ambrose is all too familiar with the inside of a Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, having flown in one with broken limbs and multiple gashes after a nasty accident involving a cat-on-a-roof and a collapsing ladder back in 2016.
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Mr Ambrose and wife Marie are therefore proud to take their place at a special table for helicopter service recipients at this year’s gala dinner and auction in aid of the service, at the Tenterfield Bowling Club on Saturday, August 4 from 6pm.
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Mr Ambrose said he’s be in a far worse condition and place than he is now, if not for the helicopter service.
“They were absolutely fantastic,” he said.
He doesn’t remember much about the flight from Federation Park to Lismore Base Hospital, except for being very angry with himself for getting into that position. Even though his plight wasn’t life-and-death, he was very grateful he didn’t have to make the long, winding trip down to Lismore by road.
“Coming back home from Lismore hospital was bad enough,” he said.
Now he and his wife do what they can to support the service, donating items to the op shop and supporting fundraising causes like the annual gala dinner.
Anyone who has used that service owes it a great debt.
- Greg Ambrose
“We’re happy to do whatever we can do,” he said.
“Anyone who has used that service owes it a great debt.
“I like to push their barrow because it needs pushing. They’re not getting the government support they deserve for the constant hours they put in, and the service is a great asset to the North Coast and to those on the land.”
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Support Group’s Dodge Landers is encouraging anyone who has had a ride in the helicopter to also book their place at the table, to celebrate the direct impact its availability has on the Tenterfield community.
Bookings are being taken now at the club’s Greenview Restaurant on (02) 6736 1848, and $5 of each $40 ticket will be donated back to the service.
There are only 120 tickets available for this popular event so early booking is recommended. The dress code is semi-formal, with life entertainment provided by Shane Teinaki.
Mr Landers hopes proceeds from the dinner and auction will add another $10,000 to the coffers in order to match last year’s $74,000 fundraising effort. (The support group’s year goes from October’s AGM to the next October.)
The Tenterfield Art and Craft Society is gearing up to hand over a large donation on the night, which will no doubt help.
“For the rate of population, Tenterfield raises as much as anyone else,” Mr Landers said.