The team at Koppers Carbon Materials and Chemicals is helping to keep a vital aeromedical rescue service for people in the Newcastle and Hunter region in the air.
Staff have donated $25,000 from their pay to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) since a Workplace Giving program was established in 2017.
Koppers matched the employees’ effort, taking the total contribution to date to $50,000.
Operations manager Nick Moretti, business analyst Jay Solanki and operations team leader Adam Laskazeski presented a cheque to the service’s regional partnerships officer Graeme Rowe and community and business partnerships manager Jason Bourke on a visit to its Broadmeadow base and maintenance facility before Christmas.
Mr Laskazeski said he donated to the WRHS because it did an amazing job rescuing injured people or quickly getting them to an emergency department for treatment.
“Hopefully it is not the case, but you never know if you or someone you know will need help from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service,” he explained.
“When I see the red and yellow choppers in the air, I know I am helping to potentially save someone’s life.”
Mr Bourke said the WRHS was very grateful for the support from Koppers and its staff.
“Every dollar is important in ensuring the service can be there for the community – 24/7,” he added.
“We’re involved in giving people medical treatment or trauma assistance while getting them to hospital quickly, search and rescues, and winching people from tough terrain and seas or inaccessible areas.
“Last financial year, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service completed just under 1,500 missions across Northern NSW.
“Donations from Koppers and other organisations keep our helicopters flying.
“It costs $4,500 an hour just to fly the choppers.
“So, having Koppers match its staff’s workplace giving donations no doubt gives their employees extra encouragement to donate – doubling the impact of their support.”
Koppers has 56 people working at its plant in Mayfield.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service flies state-of-the-art Leonardo AgustaWestland (AW139) helicopters fitted with advanced medical support equipment.
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