Australia’s leading renewable energy company Squadron Energy has announced its support of the RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CapRescue) and their vital air ambulance and rescue missions in Central Queensland.
Written by Squadron Energy |
CapRescue has been serving the Central Queensland community for nearly 30 years and completed more than 500 rescues last year alone, logging over 788 flight hours.
Spanning an area of 350,000 sq km, the CapRescue emergency helicopters protect more than 300,000 people, responding to serious accidents and medical incidents while providing a world-class aerial search and rescue service around the clock, every day of the year.
In January 2024, while working on her cattle property in Dalma, Narelle Hinz experienced a serious incident in the cattle yards, resulting in a severely lacerated lower right arm.
The swift response to the incident was a coordinated effort between the local Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) personnel and the RACQ CapRescue helicopter service.
Narelle recalls the professionalism of her transfer, expressing gratitude for the speed and precision with which she was safely moved into the helicopter to be flown to the Rockhampton Hospital for immediate care.
“The transition was very professional, and I felt at ease having such a fantastic team making decisions and completely taking care of me.”
While Narelle’s journey to full recovery continues, she is grateful for CapRescue's rapid response and support.
Pictured L-R: Pilot Dan Bagshaw, Narelle Hinz, Rescue Crew Officer Roxy Pena, Senior Aircrew Officer Patrick Norton and Gavin Hinz.
I still have recovery time ahead of me, but I am counting my blessings on how lucky I was to receive such a quick response from the amazing CapRescue Helicopter Team.
Squadron Energy’s CEO Jason Willoughby said he was proud to be supporting the vital service which has a long-standing history of serving the community in times of crisis.
“We are honoured to support the lifesaving work of CapRescue and by investing in emergency response infrastructure, we aim to make a positive and lasting impact on the wellbeing of the people who live and work in Central Queensland.”
CapRescue proudly covers an area that extends from the northern reaches of St Lawrence, as far west as Alpha and out to sea off the Capricorn Coast for approximately 110 nautical miles.
CapRescue’s Operations Manager Kirsty Wooler welcomed the partnership with Squadron Energy.
“This partnership will undoubtedly save lives and make a significant difference in our ability to respond effectively to emergencies."
“The region we cover is full of beautiful but diverse terrain. Tourists flock to enjoy the beach lifestyle and hardworking locals live in remote areas and are the lifeblood of Queensland.”
“People feel sad to see the chopper in the air, but they are always thankful the service exists.”
When asked about her support for the service that came to her aid, Narelle and her family want to help raise awareness about the invaluable role played by RACQ CapRescue.
“The public needs to be aware of what an important service is provided.”
Squadron Energy looks forward to a successful collaboration with RACQ CapRescue, reinforcing our shared commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our communities.
