Event date: 27 May 2021

Almost 200 of Brisbane’s best lawyers took flight and raised over $50,500 for Queensland’s legendary RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter service at The Calile Hotel in Fortitude Valley on Thursday 27 May.

Last year, RACQ LifeFlight Rescue’s fleet of helicopters saved 1,947 lives across the state – almost 40 missions every week in 2020 – at a cost of more than $48 million. Each mission is valued at more than $25,000, but comes at no cost to the patient.

Helicopter Operations Director Brian Guthrie said the service relied heavily on funding from Queensland communities, which were understandably down significantly last year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our rescue missions come at no cost to the patient, this is a service like no other, and when you look at the missions we’re responding to – from BBQ explosions, bushwalker rescues, on-farm accidents, snake bites, and motor vehicle accidents, anyone across South East Queensland could one day find themselves needing us,”

Brian Guthrie, Director – Helicopter Operations

This situation prompted compensation law firm Travis Schultz & Partners and full-service specialist advisory firm Vincents to host a fundraising event to help keep RACQ LifeFlight Rescue crews in the air and ready to save more lives.

Due to COVID restrictions, there were only 200 tickets available for the event hosted by MC Jane Ferarri. Jane has been variously described as an “Australian National Treasure”, the “world’s best storyteller”, or as the “official Baron of the Barossa”.

Jane Ferrari has worked as the brand ambassador for Yalumba for 25 years and is currently running her own consultancy business. In 2012, Wine Communicators of Australia named her its “Wine Communicator of the Year”. She’s a winemaker in her own right – having graduated from Roseworthy College alongside industry icons, Rolf Binder and Chris Ringland back in 1989.

A special guest appearance was also made by the 2017 James Halliday Winemaker of the Year, Sarah Crowe of Yarra Yering.

Jane and Sarah enjoyed some wine banter and talked guests through the Yarra Yering wines that they enjoyed on the evening and they also shared a bit of personal travelogue and wine stories.

The RACQ LifeFlight Chairman and former Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge attended on behalf of the helicopter service and shared the heart touching story of Mason, a young boy who had a serious accident with a mower and LifeFlight were there to save.

Thanks to the generosity of event sponsors, guests enjoyed a three-course meal with premium wine pairings from Yarra Yering. All ticket sale proceeds were donated directly to the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter service.

To learn more about LifeFlight visit: www.lifeflight.org.au

THANK YOU TO EVENT SPONSORS, PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS:

  • Vincents – Victoria Cole & Mark Thompson
  • Yarra Yering – Sarah Crowe (plus Tim Hampton & Damien Ringrose)
  • LifeFlight Australia – Mandy Hentschel, Steve Francia, Hon. Rob Borbidge AO & Volunteers Dave and Bee!
  • Jane Ferrari – MC and Wine Storyteller
  • The Calile Hotel – Tina-Sharee Jones & team
  • Absolute Estate Agents – Mario Nagy – Auctioneer
  • Fresh PR & Marketing – Amber James
  • Horse & Water & PrintEzy & Portable Creations – Creative & Printing
  • Select Audio Visual
  • Peter Wallis – Photography