Anger over fundraiser’s claims interstate rescue chopper service was involved in Tasmanian rescues

An interstate rescue charity is under fire after a doorknocker claimed their helicopters were involved in Tasmanian rescues.

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THE chair of Tasmania’s sole rescue helicopter service Tony Harrison has lambasted an interstate rescue charity for what he calls misleading fundraising activities around Tasmania.

In a stroke of bad luck for a fundraiser employed by New South Wales rescue helicopter operator CareFlight, the young man unwittingly knocked on Mr Harrison’s door seeking funds.

“The collector introduced himself as being from CareFlight and said, ‘you know, the rescue helicopters you see flying around the skies here’,” Mr Harrison said.

“I called him out and said ‘You don’t fly here’. I was very angry, I think it’s pretty poor stuff. He scurried off down my driveway.”

A worthy service, but you won’t see these helicopters flying in Tasmanian skies. Picture: CareFlight

Mr Harrison lodged a complaint with CareFlight and said the volunteer Westpac Rescue Helicopter board, which he chairs, would consider referring the matter to Consumer Affairs.

“We are extremely concerned that Tasmanians may be deceived into donating in the belief that they are supporting this state’s helicopter rescue service,” he said.

CareFlight, which is a registered charity, said the door-knocking campaign was to support a training program it delivered at no cost to Tasmanian rescuers.

“We have been delivering emergency services training for Tasmanian-first responders over many years, and will continue to do so. It is entirely appropriate to fundraise to deliver this support,” chief executive Mick Frewen said.

“At no stage have our fundraising team done anything other than represent exactly what activity we are fundraising for.”

A spokeswoman for the organisation said the fundraiser believed they had “clearly indicated that the reason for the fundraising solicitation was to raise funds to support CareFlight’s training of emergency first responders in Tasmania”.

“Notwithstanding, CareFlight takes all fundraising complaints seriously,” she said.

The Westpac rescue helicopter during a mission at The Needles, west of Maydena. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

The state government funds Westpac Rescue Helicopter missions through the Department of Police and Emergency Management and Ambulance Tasmania, and the board undertakes community fundraising to pay for specialist equipment and crew training.

“We fundraise to enhance the service for all Tasmanians and those from interstate who need it. We do not door-knock,” Mr Harrison said.

While Westpac is the major sponsor, Mr Harrison said other businesses and organisations supported the service, as did benefactors and donors.

“We get funding from people who have been rescued. We received a sizeable donation from a Victorian family after a man was rescued from Cradle Mountain,” he said.