Scott Jones, beneficiary of the Westpac rescue helicopter, John Bancroft, Westpac regional partnerships officer, Michael Hampson, Norco chief executive and Rodney Blizzard, Norco employee and key fundraiser.
Photo by
Elise Derwin
Norco’s Lismore team recently celebrated a major community milestone, contributing $500,000 to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service through its long-running employee giving program.
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Unlike traditional corporate donations, this contribution is powered entirely by grassroots generosity.
For years, Norco employees have voluntarily donated from their pay packets, while team members at the Lismore ice cream factory also collect and recycle cans year-round — with every dollar going directly to the rescue helicopter that serves their region.
The milestone carries special significance for the community, particularly Lismore local Scott Jones, who credits the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service with saving his life after he was critically injured in an explosion at the Lismore Turf Club where he worked. Scott was airlifted to hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, providing the urgent care window he needed to survive.
Scott’s story is one of many that highlight the vital role the service plays across Northern NSW and why Norco’s workforce is so committed to supporting it.
Norco chief executive Michael Hampson said reaching the $500,000 milestone was something the entire Norco family was incredibly proud of.
“This isn’t a corporate initiative — it’s our people, week after week, choosing to support a service that has stood by our community in its toughest moments,” Mr Hampson said.
“As a 100 per cent farmer-owned co-operative, supporting and giving back to our communities is at the heart of who we are.
“The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service has saved countless lives across our region, and knowing that our contributions help keep that helicopter in the air means everything to us.
“Our employees have driven this from the ground up, and their generosity speaks volumes about the spirit of this region and the values Norco was built on.”
Scott Jones added that he wouldn’t be here today without the service.
“To know local workers at Norco have been raising money for the service that saved my life — and so many others — means more than I can put into words,” he said.
“Their support helps make sure the helicopter is there for the next person who needs it, just like it was there for me.”
Norco employees have raised over $500,000 for the Westpac rescue helicopter.
John Bancroft, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Regional Partnerships Officer, says that they are incredibly grateful for the long-standing support from the local Norco workforce.
“Their ongoing commitment — from payroll giving to collecting and recycling cans — has a direct and meaningful impact on our ability to respond when the community needs us most,” Mr Bancroft said.
“Every mission we fly is made possible by the generosity of people like the Norco team.
“Reaching the $500,000 milestone is an extraordinary achievement, and we applaud each and every person who has contributed.”
To mark the achievement, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service recently presented Norco with a framed flight jacket in recognition of the co-operative’s ongoing support — a gesture that reflects the deep connection between the service and the Lismore community
