Anonymous Donor Pledges to Donate $1 for every $1 donated towards ‘Fund the Gap’ Campaign to Help Purchase Vital Equipment

A state-of-the-art Airbus H145 rescue helicopter will become operational in the Top of the South in the first half of 2026 — marking one of the most significant advancements in emergency aviation the region has ever seen.

The arrival of the H145 comes with some significant commissioning costs, first up we have the second two sets of night vision goggles (NVGs) to pay for. We have been approached by a generous local family who would like to donate $1 for every $1 donated up to $50,000.00 to help these NVGs and other commissioning costs. This is an incredibly powerful way for their donation to make double the impact and encourage others to give what they can afford to help fund the gap.”

This NVG technology will improve night rescue safety and capability, replacing aging gear with tech offering better clarity, wider views (like spotting trees/ridgelines), and reduced fatigue, critical as many missions occur after dark. These essential tools use photocathodes to amplify available light (moon/stars) into clear images, enabling 24/7 operations, but rely heavily on public donations for upgrades, allowing crews to find stranded people in total darkness throughout our region.

This is our community call to action — playing your part in fundraising for your rescue helicopter.