Radio News March 2014

1st up this month a reminder that the Rescue Helicopter Open Day takes place this Sunday 13 April from 1000hrs to 1400hrs at Taupo Airport.
“Mariner One” will be on display and all RO’s are welcome to attend and share any part of the day with us. Uniforms please.

On the 8th of March I attended the CER Mini Conference in Rotorua with Juliet Clarke from Napier. We facilitated the Radio Operators Open Forum on the Saturday afternoon.
Following on from this all volunteers which includes SAR, COMMUNITY PATROL and RO’s are now required to hold a current police clearance. I will be forwarding to you all the CNZ Search and Rescue Volunteer Security Clearance Form to be completed and returned to me.
I have spoken to Snr. Sergeant Barry Shepherd and he has agreed that as he knows you all an attached Photostat of your drivers licence will be acceptable as proof of identification.

The 11th of March was a sad day on Lake Taupo when an unconscious 21yr old was pulled from the lake and died in Hamilton Hospital the next day.
A Mayday call was received by Genna at the Harbourmasters Office who activated the pager.
 Both Misty Blue and CRV Taupo raced to the scene but on arrival St John Ambulance had already arrived by road and their crew were performing CPR on a boat ramp where the victim had been brought to shore.

Major events continued on the lake through March and Navigational Warnings were issued by the RO’s for the following events:
Ironman NZ 2014
Secondary Schools Waka Ama
More FM Raft Race and
NZ Water Ski U19 National Champs.

In closing this month, my thanks to Richard   MOBILE44 for taking the helm while I was at conference and in Hamilton.

See as many as possible at the Airport on Sunday.

 VINCE CHARLESWORTH
  ROSTER MANAGER 
  (Yoda35.)