Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter Open Day a huge success

Crowds of people were joined by hundreds of motorcycles at the Trustpower TECT Open Day, held Sunday from 10am to 2pm at the Tauranga Hospital Hangar.

The gates opened at 10 am and people rushed to join the line to meet the Pilots and Crew of the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter and have their photograph while sitting inside the rescue machine.

The Open Day provided the public with the opportunity to see the service the rescue helicopter provides free of charge to the Bay of Plenty community. In addition to getting up close to crew and the helicopter itself, people where able to experience being winched with rides on the Port Of Tauranga Rescue Winch trainer proving exceptionally popular.

The Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter team were joined by Principal Sponsors Trustpower and TECT and associate sponsor Westpac who provided coloring in competitions and face painting for the younger crowd. NZ Police, NZ Fire Service, St John Ambulance and LandSAR also partook in the day with their equipment on display and staff available to answer questions from the public.

The Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter is operated by Philips Search and Rescue Trust and half of the operating costs of each rescue helicopter is provided by the community, ‘this enables us the opportunity to give back to those who support us’ said Pilot Todd Dunham, ‘it’s a great day for all the family.’

The day was organised to coincide with the Tauranga Ulysses Motorcycle Club’s 25th annual Easter Egg and Toy Run which saw hundreds of motorcycles ride from Papamoa Plaza to Tauranga Hospital carrying Easter eggs and soft toys for the children staying in Tauranga Hospital’s Children’s Ward. The rides organisers were expected 300 bikes and said on the day that the turned exceeded expectations.

To find out how you can help support your local rescue helicopter visit www.rescue.org.nz

Philips Search and Rescue Trust is a charitable organisation, operating rescue helicopters throughout the Central North Island. Philips Search and Rescue Trust relies on support from principal sponsors and community donations. Special thanks to Tauranga’s Principal Sponsors, Trustpower and TECT. This crucial financial support ensures our rescue helicopters can continue to bring life-saving equipment, rescue personnel and trauma-trained medics directly to the patient. For further information about PSRT visit our website http://rescue.org.nz.

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