Vale Sydney LifeSaver

[helmet fire]

A sad day in Sydney today - we woke to the news that Lifesaver Sydney are forced to close the doors and many were handed the redundancy.

The first rescue helicopter in Australia, with some 30+ years of service, gone after their unsuccessful bid on the NSW Ambulance Service helicopter tender awarded to CHC.

I loved my time at Lifesaver, the spirit and the characters. Congratulations on your significant contribution to the NSW community and all Australian EMS and rescue helicopters. A mate found this on You-tube which is a compilation - but it only captures a handful of the many thousands of un-filmed incredible rescues Lifesaver have conducted, and although not featured in the video, it also reflects the amazing job the fund raisers, community groups and administrators did in enabling such a great organisation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx2_EO-IbDw

Good luck with your futures guys and girls. Congratulations on your 30+ years of service.
:D:D:D

[catseye]

A very sad day indeed.

Last discussion I had indicated they were staying on to do pure Surfy stuff using just one machine. Didn't know they were contemplating shutting down.

Cops had better get their act together for summer! Will have to do their own rescues.

Good luck to the last of a very good crew.


The Eye.

[helo1]

A very sad day for Sydney loosing an icon like you guys.
I had the pleasure of working with them on many occasions and will treasure the great photographs i got of them on jobs

[SINAY]

" What Goes Around, Comes Around "

[Ascend Charlie]

So, what will become of the squillion-dollar hangar and facilities they built on Cape Banks? A commercial operator would love such a set-up, hidden away in a golf course and next to a noisy pistol range - little chance of a noise complaint. Easy access to uncontrolled airspace of Victor One, but needing a twin for safe ops over all that water to get anywhere.:sad:

[PPRuNeUser0212]

Who will now be covering the Sydney beaches and also pulling the rock fisherman out of the drink? Police or CareFlight? Don't think we can expect a NSW Ambulance machine to get on scene in a rapid and timely manner, the familiy of the victim will have made the funeral arrangements and read the will by the time they get off the ground (if they get off)at Bankstown.

[helmet fire]

:uhoh:

Last night over way too many litres of problem solving serum consumed with fellow aviators, an observation was made in relation to this thread that I thought may be worth sharing.

Is it a sad reflection on the industry in Australia that threads attacking individuals in a sometimes very personal way, and threads attacking organisations (often competitors) run into the hundreds of posts whilst threads like this that mark the passing of an EMS icon remain unpopulated?

Or rather is it human nature to step sheepishly around the carcass of a fallen comrade guilty relived that it was not us that fell?

Or is it just so much more fun to attack people and organisations rather than recognise and respect their achievements?


Told you we had consumed too much................

[Ancient Rotorhead]

Helmet Fire (young fella), this is my first post in seven years of reading PPRune.

First of all, the instructor in me says " not problem solving serum but Truth Serum "

I fully agree with your sentiments!

I seem to remember an equally devastated crew when Lifesaver Six on the Sunshine Coast was expunged from the ORBAT in 2003.

Vale Surf!

[Shirtless]

And also remember another fallen Surf Life Saver helicopter (a B105) in Melbourne many years ago...couldn't compete with Government run operation (also the fact that SLSA was in financial difficulty at the time in Melbourne didn't help either)...:hmm::sad:

[papa68]

Helmet Fire,

Your lament at the lack of interest in Surf's recent demise is noted. Not having had any role in the past in the organisation aside, it does seem strange (sad?) that no one seems to care much. In fact one disgruntled PPRuNer, SINAY, appears quite happy about the situation - presumably left on poor terms. D'oh!

However, as a participant at the recent "problem solving" activity you mentioned, it was quite clear that you (and your fellow EMS comrades) have already answered your query regarding a pilot's ability to pay out on fellow aviators / aviation organisations. In fact, your "gang" gave a working demonstration of the kind of hostility we normally reserve for PPRuNe.:}

After pointing out how professional my employers were, and indeed how professional the sector in which I work is, I seem to remember it not being received with the seriousness it deserved. Talk about not handling constructive criticism well.:rolleyes:

Oh and another thing, if I hear another Gunship war story...

P68:O

[helmet fire]

Thank you for noting my lament.
And disgraceful behavior.

PS:
1. At no stage was there discussion regarding the professionalism of your employers - or do they also manage the business responsible for cleaning the carpet at that pub? I still have sore legs from trying to lift my feet from the floor!:eek:
2. Inter sector banter is not meant to be constructive, though it may occasionally fall short of humor.
3. At no stage is there a possibility of the cessation of gunship warries. You know you wanted to do it too.....:8
4. It is still your shout.:E
5. Relevance of all this to LifeSaver? Nil. Back to lamenting.

[Auscan]

What a fantastic video!!! I grew up in Sydney and have seen the boys flying up and down the coast on many a fine sunny day. As well as many a crappy day. I never really appreciated the calibre of work that they did until seeing it for myself. Sorry to see the organisation close down.

[helo1]

From a good source there is only a pilot and an admin person left at the new hanger.
Rumors through the Ambulance service is they are negosiating with surf to buy or lease the hanger off them.
Too many problems at Bankstown.
As i said they are rumors no actual truth as yet

[topendtorque]

If you think that the lamblasting, character assinations and pork barrelling of the rotary community is anything of note, then you clearly haven't watched the prehistoric caveman juvenile antics of the AFL grandmasters when they dummy spit. Just because they don't win, poor little idiots.

Christians to the lions has nothing on them.

Which is why I am most of my mates up here would never watch that excuse of a sport ever again.
tet

[drop lead]

tet
wtf are you on!

[sunnywa]

Sorry to hear that this valuable organisation has been (temporarily I hope) let go. They have saved many lives over the years.

I wish all the staff well and hope they move on the as green or greener pastures.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[Gibbo]

Oh and another thing, if I hear another Gunship war story...
ICAC RCC considered this motion and decided gunship warrys (sp?) were compulsory. NVG discussions are however, temporarily off limits.:ugh:
Vale Surf.........................
Gibbo

[Senior Pilot]

Helmet Fire (young fella), this is my first post in seven years of reading PPRune.

Delighted that you have now joined us at Rotorheads, and I look forward to more contributions from you :ok:

Senior Pilot

[topendtorque]

Helmet Fire (young fella), this is my first post in seven years of reading PPRune


So Ancient Rotorhead,
Do you have a hint as to your blood line?

You may be surprised, not always does Heterosis have to be a product of imported lines.
cheers tet