The whirlybird gets the worm.
The worm being the successful communication of water safety to St Mary’s Primary School students, while the whirlybird refers to a Westpac Rescue Helicopter organised by Life Saving Victoria.
On Tuesday, February 18, students craned their necks skyward to see the rescue helicopter land on the oval south-east of the Mooroopna school.
Out stepped Life Saving Victoria pilot Tim Alexander, crew chief Wayne Cartwright and rescue crew member Oscar Ablinger, ready to propel the message of water safety while demonstrating the realities of their emergency operations through rescue exercises.
In their line of work, protective equipment is key — and they could have used some during the rapid-fire Q&A segment.
What happens if a shark bites the person’s head off when you’re trying to rescue them?
Have you ever skydived from the helicopter?
Is there a toilet in there?
Shortly after, students could view the helicopter close-up and see the state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment used in emergencies.
To their surprise, it did not have a toilet.
St Mary’s Primary School principal Elaine Vertriest said this experience not only excited students but also sparked curiosity and inspired dreams.
“Perhaps today marks the beginning of a journey for some of our students to one day pursue careers as lifesavers, paramedics or even helicopter pilots,” she said.
News journalist Taylah Baker was behind the lens to capture the helicopter’s arrival, departure and everything in between.