The Wiki reference to Melbourne in 1983 is quite incorrect: the day I joined VicPol Air Wing, I was sworn in and issued Freddie 30 minutes after reporting to Williams St, and inside Pentridge Gaol 3 hours later to advise on where to carry out a (controlled) helicopter landing two days later
The gang who planned the break had been introduced in NSW to one of the Air Wing pilots (Dobbo), not an SAS pilot as per Wikki. Having been charged with Conspiracy, it was prudent to prove that a helicopter could be used as implied, so on a Wednesday sometime in June 1983 Dave A. flew a 206 into the exercise yard, doors off, and picked up 3 Sons Of God who were milling around looking lost. In and out in <30 seconds, case proved
(SOG, the VicPol Special Operations Group.)
Later we advised the Prison Authorities to string marked wires over all open prison spaces, but to this day they haven't done so. We have a couple of private prisons north of Werribee, one mens, one womens. The Womens Prison actually has a helipad
inside the prison walls, probably for those suffering PMT or similar
