The blessing of a new rest facility next to the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust’s (EHRT) hangar also marked the unveiling of a name that celebrates the past while looking forward to the future.
At a function on Saturday morning, the 60sq m facility was blessed by Te Hahi Mihinare (Anglican) Reverend Jimmy Green on behalf of mana whenua Ngai Tāwhiri.
It is named after former EHRT chairman Patrick Willock, in order to acknowledge the contribution he has made over more than 23 years of service.
“There have been significant changes in the industry over that time, and Patrick has had a huge role to play in that,” EHRT trustee and project liaison Murray Ferris said.
“And he’s continuing to work to take the service into a new era, so there was unanimous agreement that this was a great way to acknowledge that contribution.”
The Willock Wing consists of bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and work facilities for members of the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter team, relief crews and other emergency workers seconded in times of crisis.
Between the adjacent hangar’s own resources and those shared with Gisborne Airport, should the worst happen, it will remain fully operational with power, water and communication systems in place.
“Cyclone Gabrielle was a hard time for our region, one when the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter team really came to the fore,” Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said at the opening.
“That it operates at all is thanks to the work done over decades by the trust.
“While we all hope not to have to need the rescue helicopter service, it is reassuring to know it is there, and we thank them for the incredible job they do in and for our community.”
Led by local company Dawson Building, the build cost around $360,000 and was funded by a post-Cyclone Gabrielle Regional Resilience grant from the Health NZ/ACC Ambulance Team.
“This sort of initiative is exactly what that funding was designed for,” Ferris said. “In recent years our region has been through a lot, and our vulnerabilities were exposed, so this project goes some way to addressing that.”
“And the build could not have gone better. Under the guidance of Pete [Dawson] and foreman Thomas Brown, it was delivered on spec and on time, and will soon be ready for use by our team and other emergency workers.
“Our only concern is that we’ve made it too comfortable and the team will never want to go home.”
During the blessing, EHRT chairman Ian Parker noted the trust’s origins 36 years ago in the aftermath of Cyclone Bola.
“Bola gave rise to a volunteer-led local rescue helicopter service whose foundation we continue to reference as our guiding principles.”
The event marked the Gisborne base’s position as the benchmark for the service’s operations company, Search and Rescue Services Ltd, Parker said.
“That is within the group’s eight North Island bases, and not just in terms of bricks and mortar, but in the people who do their mahi here every day.
“But while this is a special occasion, we will not become complacent. Our work continues as we continually strive to advocate for and support operations that deliver equitable access to health services for all of our communities.”