Convoy for Kids nominated for award after raising money for NETS

CONVOY for Kids have been nominated for a community-focused award for its work providing the Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service with essential equipment.

Convoy for kids Sydney representatives Ian Shaw, Brett Thompson, John King and Pam King at the NETS state headquarters in Bankstown. Picture: Angelo Velardo

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EACH year hundreds of transport industry workers — mostly truck drivers — travel in a convoy to raise money for children’s charities.

This year, the Convoy for Kids committee organised 650 trucks to drive from Huntingwood to Sydney Olympic Park to raise money for the Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS).

The $100,000 raised was for three Tempus Pro monitors to be used in ambulances, helicopters and planes when NETS transports tiny patients between hospitals.

Operations and facility manager Josh Emanuel sits in the ambulance that Convoy for Kids Sydney helped fund. Picture: Angelo Velardo

NETS operations manager Josh Emanuel said the organisation relied heavily on donations and fundraisers such as Convoy for Kids.

“Without the work that they do we wouldn’t be able to buy this equipment,” Mr Emanuel said. “The donations we get from Convoy do go a long way.”

Convoy for Kids’ nine-member committee meets once a month at Seven Hills RSL to plan their events.

Member and truck driver Kevin “Buckets” Barry, of Blacktown, joined the convoy 25 years ago.

“I had young daughters ... I just thought one day I may need an ambulance,” Mr Barry said.

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He said he was glad to use his “trade” to help others.

The other eight members of the Convoy for Kids committee hail from Wakeley, Casula, Nowra, Moorebank, Granville, Sadleir and Casula.

The group has been nominated for a Pride of Australia medal for their passionate, volunteer work.