Students at Maroota Public School received an exciting visit yesterday, when the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service made a special landing on their school grounds. The visit, which also included students from MacDonald Valley Public School, allowed children to meet the rescue crew and learn about coastal safety and emergency procedures.

In addition to the helicopter visit, around 12 volunteers from the Maroota Rural Fire Brigade, along with a fire truck, were on hand to further enhance the students' understanding of emergency services.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service operates from two bases in Sydney's La Perouse and Moruya on the South Coast. With a longstanding history of providing vital support to the community, the service assists in search and rescue missions, aerial surveillance, flood support, and coastal patrols. Recently marking 50 years of operation, the service has completed more than 100,000 missions—without charging anyone for rescue efforts.

Westpac Regional General Manager Mellissa Pearson said it was important to educate young Australians about safety, especially as they spend time exploring the country's beaches and waterways. "It's important to remind young Australians to stay safe no matter what time of year it is or what they are doing," Pearson said. She noted that the interactive session provided students with a unique opportunity to see up close the advanced lifesaving equipment used by the rescue crew, making the experience both educational and fun.

Shane Daw, General Manager of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, highlighted the significance of teaching children how to stay safe outdoors and what to do in emergencies. "The helicopter has been called out to the area numerous times, and it’s great to teach students about the role we play in helping the community," Daw said. "While we hope they’ll never need us, if they do, we’ll be there to help."

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, supported by Westpac for 50 years, remains one of Australia's longest-running community partnerships.