Aircrew officer Mick Kerry marks 40 years with rescue helicopter service

WESTPAC Rescue Helicopter Service has marked the 40-year anniversary of Lismore-based aircrew officer Mick Kerry.

Kerry joined the service as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 1985 and has since been involved in hundreds of critical call outs and lifesaving rescues across the region.

“I was a volunteer for the first seven years, and it was fairly humble beginnings when you look at the state-of-the-art equipment we operate with now,” he said.

“The service kicked off in 1982, and I was lucky that I was on surf lifesaving patrol at Ballina when they were looking for new recruits three years later.

“Time flies, but it’s something I love, and I’ve had a lot of support from family and the people I’ve worked with over the years.”

Kerry served as head of aircrew training and checking in the northern region between 1995 and 2017.

 

He also held the role of crew chief officer for six years and has been involved in major flood and bushfire responses, as well as dangerous sea rescues.

One of his most personal missions involved transporting his brother Steve to a Gold Coast hospital.

“He was already here in hospital and was meant to be having surgery the next day,” Kerry said.

“One of the nurses found him with a bleed on the brain and I didn’t know until we got the call out.

“That was one where it was very lucky that we had such a positive outcome of getting him where he needed to be.”

The summer period remains one of the busiest times for the service.

 

“It’s horses and motorbike accidents on the weekends these days, we seem to get them more than anything else,” he said.

“The school holiday and summer period is really busy, and you just never know what you’re going to get.”

The helicopter service relies on a large team including crew, paramedics, doctors, engineers, administration staff and fundraisers.

Kerry said he was grateful to be part of a team committed to the community.

“Everyone who works there just wants to do their bit for the service,” he said.

“Just about everyone you speak to in the area has a story about someone they know who has needed the helicopter.

“It definitely has that community connection and I’ve always been proud to be involved.”