Our Values

Commitment

We give 100% effort to the task at hand and complete it to the best of our ability.

Initiative

We do not wait to be asked and in our decisions and actions we are accountable.

Comradeship

The member is the group and the group is the member.

Humour

We see the humour in all adversity that we may face.

Humility

None of us shall see him or herself above the needs of the group.

Mission Statement

Hamilton SAR Group provides highly competent and operationally focused teams
that are well led, trained and equipped.

Committee

Michael Bland

Chairman

Matt Hassard

Operations Coordinator

E snapperassasin@xtra.co.nz

Gin Peck

New Member Coordinator

E ninandnim@xtra.co.nz

Dave Pitchford

Police Rep

Barry Were

YSAR Liaison

Russell Lamb

Administrator

Gilbert Southworth

Treasurer

Jake Crosby

Comms & Media

Last Months Meeting

Exercise on LandSAR debrief forms

This Months Meeting

• 7:30pm, Monday 18th March.
• Update on first aid courses
• GPS exercise - bring your GPS if you have one

Monthly Training

This months training will be on Wednesday the 27th at 5:30pm. It has been changed to Wednesday due to Easter.

The location is yet to be decided but will be on the east side of town.

Reminders

Availability

• If you are going away: Contact Gin with the dates you are unavailable.
• If you are unable to attend a training: Contact Matt.
• If you are unable to attend a meeting: Contact Gin or a committee member.

Pager Test Message

Reminder for all those members with pagers. The first of every month a test message is sent out to ensure your pager is operational, if you do not receive this message you should contact Matt.

Personal Details

Contact Russell if there are any changes to your contact details so the callout list is updated.

Mini SAREX 1 New

A Mini SAREX 1 will be held from after work, Friday 5th to lunchtime 6th April at Pirongia. We are looking for memebers to attend to help with the assessment. Please advise Matt if you're able to assist. If you know of anyone else who may be interested in joining, get them to complete the application form at hsar.org.nz/join and we'll get in contact with them.

Callouts

• 21st February 2013: 76 Year old Female urban search. Found alive and well about an hour after searchers deployed.
• 26th February 2013: Two females in Waiorongomai Valley. Found by trampers.
• 7th March 2013: 77 Year old Male urban search. Found alive and well before searchers deployed.
• 9th March 2013: During SAREX, 2 missing 10 year olds on Pirongia. Found alive and well.
• 10th March 2013: During SAREX, 2 missing hunters in Pureora. Found alive and well through a combination of tracking and sounds (gunshots).

Pureora SAREX New

In the news

Waitomo News

Travel Costs

If you took your car to the SAREX at Pureora you can claim travel expenses. They are now calculated on a flat rate of 60c per km up to max of $300. You need to get your completed forms to Gin by the 31st of March.

For Sale

• Backcountry ration packs – with breakfast, lunch, dinner and extras pack (tea, coffee, chocolate etc.). They are a bargain at $20. Remember – these are sold to our group at this special rate on the understanding that they will only be used during SAREXs or SAR Operations.
• Hamilton SAR cloth badge, $6.00 contact Russell
• Whistles – Bright and Loud, $12 contact Barry

Discounts for Members

• R&R Sport – 20%
• Trek 'n' Travel – 20%
• Bivouac Outdoor – 20%
• Macpac Hamilton – up to 30%
• Torpedo 7 – 10% Email Barry for discount code.
• Kathmandu – Free summit club membership
• Mountain Designs – 25% off Mountain Designs Products, 20% off others

Good in the Hood Reminder

For the month of March Hamilton SAR will be one of the groups getting a donation form Z Energy in Dinsdale. Every customer will get a token and for every token put in the Hamilton SAR Group's slot Z will donate $1.

Please support Z Energy in Dinsdale and vote for Hamilton SAR group. Encourage everyone you know to help us out.

The other groups for March are West Hamilton Night Owls, Waikato Base Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust Family Start.

Rescue Group New

We are putting together a rescue group within Hamilton SAR to train to a higher level in rescue techniques. Covering skill from stretcher team management to rope rescue and personal rope skills. The main aims of the group will be to have a team available who can efficiently run a stretcher carry, use rope skills to make stretcher carries over sloped terrain safer and search safely around hazards such as cliff tops. However, it’s important to note that it’s unlikely that a ropes team will be needed in our area, and the decision to use us will rest with the Incident Controller on the day. This should be viewed as a personal development opportunity.

We will be running an initial training weekend on the 20th and 21st of April at the the Kaimais hut. We are using this training to identify members who would be ideal for the group. If you are keen to be a part of this weekend email jake@hsar.org.nz.

What you need:

• Some knowledge and experience with rope work - the group is intended as further development for those who already have some skill and experience in this area.
• Willingness to learn - at trainings and on your own.
• Commitment and enthusiasm - we will probably only train together once every couple of months but you’ll probably want to keep active in order to keep your skills up.
• No expectation of being deployed operationally.
• Equipment - A harness, helmet and edgekit. We will be building edge kits once the group is established. We will source materials for you at a good rate. You’ll need to own or borrow harness and helmet for the initial weekend.

First Aid Course Changes New

Triple One Care are now offering a one day first aid course that LandSAR accepts to fulfil your first aid requirement.

NZQA Credits: This new course does not give you NZQA credits and therefore does not count for workplace first aid. However, if participants wish to gain these credits they can stay for an extra hour and pay $25 to be assessed for them. LandSAR and the Hamilton SAR group do not require the NZQA credits so will not cover this extra cost.

Refreshers: The new Triple One Care one day course is also a refresher, so both the initial course and the refresher are one day.

MSC can revalidate courses with NZQA credits from any provider. They hold two revalidation days throughout the year or they can be arranged outside of the advertised course dates.

Full Courses: MSC still offer the full outdoor first aid course with NZQA credits. They courses are not funded by LandSAR so volunteers will have to cover some of the cost if they choose MSC. Full courses for MSC are booked 3 times a year at Pirongia Forest Park Lodge and extra courses can be arranged if there are sufficient numbers.

Full first aid courses for Triple One Care will likely still be run at Te Kauri Lodge once a year plus you have the option of travelling to another area as courses are advertised.