Hamilton SAR Group provides highly competent and operationally focused teams
that are well led, trained and equipped.
When a pager message requests a response to the pager number all Hamilton SAR members are to respond to that number with, name and either Yes or No for availability, eg "Gin is available" or "Gin not available". If you are going to be available later in day say name and time available from (24hr format or specify am or pm), eg "Gin available after 12pm".
The management team receive the messages from everyone and are able to collate how many we have available. While everyone is getting ready we have to give the response to Police SAR, this then determines whether they have to call out other areas. This is also very important in co-ordinating transport arrangements as it's not helpful if we get five yes responses, send those people on their way then other people turn up at meeting place and no one has any transport.
Alternatively, send Gin a txt to advise availability but the pager method is preferable as more than one management person can then co-ordinate reposnses (Gin might not be available or already driving).
We expect a response from all members with a pager, even if you are not available.
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.
Contact Russell if there are any changes to your contact details so the callout list is updated. Change of email address also needs to be passed on to Jake for the newsletter.
There were to be 80 beds ready for the SAREX but unfortunately they only have 40 now. There is plenty of floor space and if needed plenty of room for tents. Please bring a mattress, stretcher and tent in case you don’t get a bed.
Sorry about this but it is out of our control.
Russell sent out an email to everyone that had the agenda for the SAREX attached & we are expecting a response from all SAR members on your availability for this annual event. As part of the code of conduct the expectation is that each member attends at least one Sarex annually. If you're not one of the 18 that have replied so far can you please urgently email Gin with either Yes or No. ninandnim@xtra.co.nz
Russell now has the replacement ID cards which he will bring along to the meeting, if you're not able to attend remember to send Gin your apology and contact Russell to arrange to pick up your card.
Russell has also received two copies of the latest Bushcraft manual 2011 edition for anyone who wishes to borrow them.
Matt has a supply of ration packs for SAR members to purchase for use on SAR events. Please contact him directly.
Jane Carswell is moving to Dunedin to study Medicine at Otago University.
December 23rd Four members went to Mangatautari to search for 4 missing tourists. They got lost off the main track but had cellphone contact. They were located by voice and Gemma the search dog.
February 16th A person with Alzheimers near Opoutere. We were stood down on the way there as the lost party was located alive and well.
I am a medical student currently doing a rotation in toxicology at the poison control centre. Today, this woman called in very upset because she caught her little daughter eating ants. I quickly reassured her that the ants are not harmful and there would be no need to bring her daughter into the hospital. She calmed down and at the end of the conversation happened to mention that she gave her daughter some ant poison to eat in order to kill the ants. I told her that she better bring her daughter into the emergency room right away.
Early this year, some Boeing employees on the airfield decided to steal a life raft from one of the 747s. They were successful in getting it out of the plane and home. Shortly after they took it for a float on the river, they noticed a Westpac Rescue Helicopter coming towards them. It turned out that the chopper was homing in on the emergency locator beacon that activated when the raft was inflated. They are no longer employed at Boeing.
A man, wanting to rob a Bank of Queensland , walked into the Branch and wrote 'Put all your muny in this bag.' While standing in line, waiting to give his note to the teller, he began to worry that someone had seen him write the note and might call the police before he reached the teller's window. So he left the Bank and crossed the street to the NAB Bank. After waiting a few minutes in line, he handed his note to the teller. She read it and, surmising from his spelling errors that he wasn't the brightest light in the harbour, told him that she could not accept his stickup note because it was written on a Bank of Queensland deposit slip and that he would either have to fill out a NAB deposit slip or go back to Bank of Queensland. Looking somewhat defeated, the man said, 'OK' and left. He was arrested a few minutes later, as he was waiting in line back at the Bank of Queensland. Happened in Noosa!
A guy walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded all of the cash from the cash drawer.
After the cashier put the cash in a bag, the robber saw a bottle of Scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but the cashier refused and said, 'Because I don't believe you are over 21.' The robber said he was, but the clerk still refused to give it to him because she didn't believe him. At this point, the robber took his driver's licence out of his wallet and gave it to the clerk.
The clerk looked it over and agreed that the man was in fact over 21 and she put the Scotch in the bag. The robber then ran from the store with his loot.
The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that she got off the licence. They arrested the robber two hours later.
A pair of robbers entered a record shop nervously waving revolvers. The first one shouted, 'Nobody move!' When his partner moved, the startled first bandit shot him.
Seems this guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he'd just throw a brick through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the brick and heaved it over his head at the window. The brick bounced back knocking him unconscious. It seems the liquor store window was made of Flexi-Glass. The whole event was caught on videotape. Perth WA.
My daughter went to a local McDonalds and ordered a burger. She asked the person behind the counter for 'minimal lettuce.' He said he was sorry, but they only had iceberg. Happened in Surfers Paradise!
I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked, ''Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge? To which I replied, 'If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?' He smiled knowingly and nodded, 'That's why we ask.' Happened in Melbourne.
When my husband and I arrived at a car dealers to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver's side door. As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. 'Hey,' I announced to the technician, 'its open!' His reply, 'I know - I already done that side.' This was at the Ford dealership Dubbo.
The calendar is now available at hsar.org.nz/calendar. This will be keep up to date so you can refer to it at any time.
