THOUSANDS of Horsham and district medical patients will benefit from an aeromedical transfer station at Horsham Aerodrome.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Horsham businesses, service groups and individuals have donated $160,000 both in cash and in-kind towards the project.
The station has the potential to improve circumstances for more than 25,000 patients over the next 50 years.
Horsham East Rotary Club, Wimmera Masonic Lodge and Ambulance Victoria Horsham Auxiliary set a six-month goal in March to raise the money for the project.
The steering committee announced on Wednesday it had successfully achieved its goal.
Horsham East Rotary Club immediate past president Jenny Reid was overwhelmed with emotion as she addressed some of those who had pledged work or money towards the station.
“I get quite teary with all these tradies donating their time towards it,’’ she said.
She said patients and paramedics were exposed to the elements, sometimes for several hours, during patient transfers from ambulances to aircraft.
The new station will encompass two ambulance bays with ample space, to protect people from the elements.
Freemasons Victoria donated $25,000 towards the station to reach the project total.
Wimmera Masonic Lodge co-ordinator Philip Nicks said about 500 people a year were transferred at the aerodrome.
“That’s 25,000 people over the next 50 years who won’t need to be subjected to the elements,’’ he said.
Mr Nicks and Ms Reid formed the steering committee with auxiliary president Paul Burton.
Rotary members Steve Holmes and Barry Sherwell were also involved.
Mr Burton is also the Horsham Ambulance Victoria team manager.
He has worked in Horsham since 2001 and is passionate about the project.
Mr Burton said paramedics sometimes worked on patients for hours outside, regardless of rain, heat or hail, to perform the transfer.
“In terms of privacy, dignity and comfort, it will make a huge difference to people,’’ he said.
“It will make the transfers easier.’’
Mr Nicks said the small steering committee was the secret to success.
He also credited Locks Construction’s Stephen Wik, who helped bring several other businesses on board.
“He’s a wonderful bloke,’’ he said.
“He saved us literally hundreds of hours of work.
“All the people involved need to be thanked, but he needs to be thanked especially.’’
Mr Wik downplayed his role in the project.
He said transfers were a regular occurrence and anyone could require the service.
“My brother’s used it before,’’ he said.
“You see it getting used more than 400 times a year, and it’s only going to increase.’’
Mr Wik will work as project manager throughout the building stage.
Work is due to start in the next few weeks – and with it, the first in-kind donation.
Dickerson Earthmoving will provide all the earthworks, levelling the ground ready for the station.
Paul Dickerson said he volunteered his time due to a personal connection to the project.
His son Archer was first transferred at five weeks old.
“My youngest boy Archer has heart trouble and was flown out to the Royal Melbourne Hospital,’’ he said.
“This is a good opportunity to give something to the community.’’
Ms Reid thanked everybody who supported the project.
"This is what living in the country's about,'' she said.
The station will be completed by February next year.