MORE THAN A THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS HELP WESTPAC RESCUE OPERATE

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service has also extended its thanks to some dedicated volunteers.

Newcastle’s Heather and Allen Davies have been with the organisation for more than five years.

“We’ve never had to use it ourselves fortunately but we may one day,” volunteer Heather Davies says.

“To be able to celebrate our volunteers really means the whole world to us because we really view them as unpaid staff,” Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service CEO Richard Jones says.

The Davies regularly donate their time to fundraisers and base visits.