The event raised more than $40,000 in its first year, which says much for the unique community spirit in the area. That money is the equivalent of funding for 10 life-saving missions or specialist training programs or equipment for our crews. The northern section of our service region, including Goulburn and Yass, is our busiest area of operation with the helicopter tasked to more than 110 missions there in the past year alone.

The response from the community was phenomenal. Hundreds of people dropped by the park to make a donation, to learn more about the operations of the helicopter or to share their story of how Snowy Hydro SouthCare affected their lives.

There were some particularly moving past patient stories including a young woman who suffered a serious head injury in a polo accident and was transported by the helicopter. She’s recently been returning home to the Goulburn region on weekends from the brain injury rehab unit in Sydney. To see her with her family and hearing of her recovery was very affirming for the Snowy Hydro SouthCare team.

Hundreds of people made donations on the day and dozens of Goulburn businesses dug deep.

There are many thanks that need to be extended, in particular to Mayor Geoff Kettle for his passion for the service and his determination to support his community, to the Veolia-Mulwaree Trust for their ongoing commitment to the helicopter, to Hume MP Angus Taylor and the many businesses and organisations who got behind the event. Snowy Hydro SouthCare is proud to be a part of the Goulburn community.

Chris Kimball, chief executive, Snowy Hydro SouthCare.