Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust secretary and manager Vivienne Seaton receives a $50,000 cheque from Maniototo Lions Club president Dave Scott at the Taieri rescue helicopter base yesterday. Looking on are Lions fundraising project co-convener John Mulholland (left) and PGG Wrightson Seeds representative Lucy Bell. The seeds company was the main sponsor. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN

Club donates $50k to rescue helicopter trust

· Otago Daily Times Online News

Crops and auctions have helped secure a $50,000 donation to the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust.

The Maniototo Lions Club donated the money to the trust yesterday.

Club president Dave Scott said the helicopter did a great service in Maniototo and had been a godsend many times.

The club had run a crop competition where more than 80 farmers entered the competition with lots of different crops.

Crops were measured and weighed and prizes were awarded at an event in Ranfurly.

The event attracted a large crowd of up to 200 and a prize auction took place from sponsored prizes from Maniototo businesses.

Helicopters Otago owner Graeme Gale spoke at the event and made an impression on the crowd, Mr Scott said.

Mr Gale discussed all the work the state-of-the-art service did.

That meant it was not hard to decide what to contribute to when the decision came on the allocation of the funds raised, Mr Scott said.

— Allied Media