A multi-purpose helicopter donated to the NSW RFS by Goodman continues to help save lives

State-of-the-art helicopters can be invaluable in providing disaster relief.

They can conduct water bombing in fire operations, handle flood search and rescue missions, and transport personnel in and out of emergency zones.

The multi-purpose helicopter donated in 2021 by Goodman to the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is an ongoing representation of Goodman Foundation’s commitment to supporting organisations and communities providing disaster relief.

As NSW RFS Commissioner, Rob Rogers, said: “Helicopters like this are about saving lives.”

The helicopter, the largest ever corporate donation to the NSW RFS, will save lives for at least a decade. Initially purchased for firefighting, the helicopter’s use now extends beyond that to search, rescue, training and certification.

Hundreds of hours of service

Before the seven-seater helicopter came into service in October 2021 it was fitted out with a winch, a 1,300L belly tank for water bombing and a surveillance camera for use in firefighting and search and rescue operations.

It was quickly put to work in the west of New South Wales, rescuing people and delivering supplies to those affected by the year’s floods. Since that date, the aircraft has clocked up hundreds of hours of service, repeatedly demonstrating why this type of helicopter is known in the aviation industry as a “workhorse”.

Since the end of 2023, the helicopter has had 242 taskings, including during flood events and fire incidents in Walgett and the Namoi/Gwydir and Mid Coast areas.

Our partnership with NSW RFS also goes beyond the tangible. The work of the organisation, and its 70,000 plus volunteers, is a perfect fit with Goodman Foundation’s strategy of supporting community partners build their capacity and capability to deliver.

Aligning on values means anything is possible

Commissioner Rob Rogers agrees that there is a strong synergy between the two organisations.

“There's a clear alignment of organisational values that we're both simply trying to do the right thing by the community,” he said.

“I think that those alignments of values give you the opportunity to do things that otherwise we couldn't do by ourselves, and the Goodman foundation wouldn't be

able to do by themselves. If we have that shared vision, and that shared understanding, there’s nothing we can’t do.”