EastLink sponsors "The Angel Comes Home To Tyabb" (Sat 18 Jan)

EastLink is excited to announce our sponsorship of this event, "The Angel Comes Home to Tyabb," at Tyabb Airport on Saturday 18 January (gates open 10am, ceremony at 11am, close 2pm).

This special event, hosted by the Peninsula Aero Club, will pay tribute to a group of Peninsula Aero Club members, led by Dr Tom Ready and Bill Vowell, who revolutionized emergency medical services with the establishment of the Angel of Mercy helicopter ambulance service at Tyabb Airport in 1970 - one of the world’s first civilian helicopter ambulance services.

The roads from Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne were basic at the time. An ambulance ride to a Melbourne hospital was long and arduous. It could make the difference between saving a limb, rescuing a life, or saving a mother and baby from a difficult birth.

Their dream was to transform the way medical aid was delivered, and it would take the form of a pioneering helicopter ambulance service: the Angel of Mercy.

Event Highlights

• Unveiling Ceremony - the Angel of Mercy helicopter from 1971: This iconic Bell 206 helicopter (VH-AAL), the heart of the southern hemisphere’s first civilian helicopter ambulance service and a historical icon of Australian aviation history, will be mounted as a gate guardian at the entrance to the Peninsula Aero Club. This historic moment marks the return of "the Angel" to its birthplace.

• Guest Appearances: Family members of Dr Tom Ready and Bill Vowell, as well as highly skilled pilots who flew rescue missions, will be present to share their stories and experiences.

• Community Celebration: The event will feature a static display of a range aircraft owned by aero club members, presentations, live music from The Catalina Cruisers, and a free sausage BBQ lunch, creating a festive atmosphere for all attendees.

A Legacy of Innovation and Compassion

The Angel of Mercy service, established in 1970, transformed emergency medical care by providing swift and efficient air transport for critically ill patients. Its impact extended beyond the Mornington Peninsula, inspiring similar initiatives across Australia and around the world. The service's pioneering spirit and innovative approach continue to inspire future generations of medical professionals and aviation enthusiasts.

Join Us in Honouring a Lifesaving Legacy

EastLink is proud to support this event, which not only celebrates a significant milestone in medical emergency response and civil aviation history but also honours the unwavering commitment to saving lives.

We invite EastLink customers and the broader community to join us in commemorating the remarkable achievements of Dr Tom Ready, Bill Vowell, and the brave pilots of the Angel of Mercy.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday 18 January

• Time: gates open 10am, ceremony at 11am, close 2pm

• Location: Peninsula Aero Club, 98 Stuart Rd, Tyabb, Victoria

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of this historic event that celebrates innovation, compassion, and community spirit. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Angel of Mercy (VH-AAL) pictured in 1981:

Pilot Bob Turner commented on the first medevac flight of VH-AAL, the Angel of Mercy, on 1 March 1971:

The call had come early and I took off around 0700 for the Frankston Hospital to pick up the victim of a car accident.

The weather was poor and I had some difficulty in getting over the hills to the south of Frankston finally following the road at low level in mist and low cloud and eventually landing on the golf course behind the hospital.

After considerable delay the unconscious patient was loaded into the aircraft on a stretcher and the Doctor advised me his condition was very poor; he would not survive the road journey to the Alfred and probably would not survive the flight but it was the only alternative he had.

With the patient on board I took off and flew coastal and then to the Alfred Hospital landing in the park across the road to the amusement of the commuters walking across the park to work. After 5 minutes a team from the hospital appeared crossing the road with a stretcher trolley and loaded the patient before heading back to the hospital with great speed.

I departed and had an uneventful flight back to Tyabb where the weather had improved considerably.

The patient was a baker who had been loading bread into his van when he was hit from behind by a car, causing serious injuries as he was impaled by a piece of the chrome trim. He survived but was in hospital for a considerable time.

It was a pretty good outcome for the first medevac flight of the Angel of Mercy and the first of many trips that would save numerous lives over the years.