REGION - Residents of Victoria's south-west will now have access to the very best ambulance services as the new $20.8 million emergency helicopter made its inaugural flight from Essendon to Warrnambool last Friday.
Among the guests to witness the historic occasion was Lake Bolac's Peter O'Rorke, vice chairman of the West Vic Rescue Helicopter Service committee.
Officially launching the new emergency air ambulance service in south-west Victoria, Health Minister Daniel Andrews greeted the arrival of the helicopter at Warrnambool Airport and opened the new air ambulance facility which will house the service.
''This new air ambulance will give people in the state's south-west access to the best pre-hospital emergency care anywhere in the world,'' Mr Andrews said.
''In medical emergencies, this helicopter service will allow critical cases to be flown directly from an incident site to a major trauma centre in Melbourne. The service will also perform search and rescue operations requested by the Australian Maritime Services Authority.
''This facility includes a hangar and purpose built storage areas for parts and fittings vital to the safe operation of the helicopter. The new facilities provide rest areas for MICA flight paramedics and pilots, as well as an operational flight planning area and rooms for meetings, training and general administrative duties.''
Over 60 local workers were involved in the construction of the facility.
Mr Andrews said the new chopper, a 412 Bell EP model, is equipped with a global positioning system, weather radar, searchlight, rescue hoist and can travel at 242km/hr and carry two crew, two patients and three attendants.
Mr O'Rorke said the committee was pleased to finally see many years of campaigning for a helicopter service finally come to fruition.
''It was an historic day, after 12 years of work by the West Vic Rescue Helicopter Service committee and the enormous public effort over the last couple of years,'' Mr O'Rorke said..
It took a public campaign and petition containing 28,000 signatures presented to Premier John Brumby, as well as the recommendation from a review of air ambulance services, before the government finally announced funding to locate a helicopter in Warrnambool, together with the associated infrastructure.
Mr O'Rorke said the helicopter would service areas including Ararat, Stawell, Horsham, Ballarat and the Grampians area through to the South Australian border, as well as offshore emergencies.
While acting in his capacity as a former councillor of Ararat Rural City, Mr O'Rorke regularly spoke at South West Council and North West Council groups about the need for the service, all of whom supported the project, and he paid tribute to their support over the years.
''It was a very proud day for everyone involved and also a moving day for those families who have lost loved ones in the past because there was no helicopter available,'' Mr O'Rorke said.
Mr Andrews said a memorial garden would be established on the site of the air ambulance facility in recognition of the important community support for the new service.
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