School News

The Welsh rugby team will have an open training session on the HBHS Number One Rugby Field on Wednesday from 10.30 to 12.30.  Please feel free to come along and watch the players in action.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter made a scheduled stop today at 11.00 am on the No. 1 rugby field at Hamilton Boys' High School.  Hundreds of Year 9 and 10 boys used the opportunity to have a close look at the interior of the vehicle and talk to the pilot.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter service provides 24-hour, seven day a week service.  This service often makes a life or death difference to thousands of New Zealanders. 

A Westpac Rescue Helicopter is necessary when

• a patient is very sick or badly injured
• medics think getting to hospital will make a big difference
• an accident has occurred in a difficult location

Westpac Rescue Helicopters are like a fully equipped intensive care unit in the sky.  From a defribullator for a premature baby to full life support systems, Westpac Resuce Helicopters are equipped to deal with any situation.

Rescue Helicopter History

1950: Helicopters were first used by the military for rescues in the Korean War.  They were ideal for quickly transferring wounded soldiers from combat zones to medical stations.

Hundreds of students came out at interval today to watch the Westpac Rescue Helicopter land on the number one rugby field. Three students were selected to fly around the greater Hamilton area and then up to the hospital, under the supervision of Stuart Hakeney.  Matt South - HBHS student photographer, Calum Redpath and Carl Drury were each delighted at the opportunity to fly with the team.

The conditions were superb for a landing and inspection; a crowd of boys remained around the helicopter until the last possible minute, asking questions of the pilot and crew, and taking in the specialist equipment.

We would like to extend our thanks to Westpac Rescue Helicopter service for sharing their time and expertise with us.

The pilot was presented with a cheque from money raised for the Westpac Air Ambulance from a recent mufti-day.

The Westpac Rescue helicopter touched down on the Number 1 Rugby Field at lunchtime on Friday, as part of it's annual visit to donors in the greater Waikato area.  Students Jonty Cook, Matthew Turner-Sheath, Blake Wong, Tristan Houghton, Hamish Nealand Billy Turner were identified by staff as deserving student passengers, who clearly enjoyed every minute of their jaunt in the air.  HBHS mufti-day money was presented to the pilot and hundreds of students looked on with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as the helicopter lifted off again just after lunch.

Rescue helicopters operate a vital rescue service that’s on-call for all New Zealanders, virtually anywhere in the country. 

These helicopters are like a fully equipped intensive care unit in the sky. They’re equipped to deal with any situation – from a defibrillator for a premature baby, to full life-support systems.

Rescue helicopters are used when:

• a patient is very sick or badly injured, and medics believe getting to hospital quickly will make a big difference

• an accident has occurred in a difficult or remote location

Whaea Barton travelled to Gisborne on Wednesday to compete at Te Matatini Kapa Haka competition. The result – a Top 9 finish for her troupe, Te Hokowhitu a Tu, was a real bonus, on what has been an important personal journey. Whaea Barton reflected on her experience today: