Wanaka resident Ross Black is appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Ross founded the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust and was chair from 1998 to 2019, spearheading a $3.5M fundraising drive for a dedicated rescue helicopter in the Otago area.

The trust now has four dedicated rescue helicopters. 

Ross described his role to the Wanaka App as “a small bit player”, and says he was surprised to be nominated for the honour.

“I’m not the hero in the story,” he said, adding that Graeme and Rosslyn Gale (who have run Helicopters Otago since 1993), their pilots and paramedics are the real heroes.

Ross, who started his business life with an outdoor leisure company, moved on to become an independent company director on a variety of companies.

“I’ve had some amazing association with some amazing companies and people,” he said, adding: “But without a doubt, the most rewarding and dearest to my heart has been the rescue helicopter trust.”

“It’s given me a very privileged insight into the paramedic and pilots; their dedication, competence, and the connection with the hospital. It’s an amazing service and I’ve really been quite delighted to be involved with it.”

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Otago in the 1990s didn’t have a rescue helicopter, despite having “a lot of people who live and work and play in comparatively remote locations”. 

“When Graeme Gale came to me and said we really need to be upside with Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, that was the starting point for us all getting together,” Ross said.

The group of businessmen founding the trust had no funding, and raised the money to buy the equipment and build the helipad at Dunedin Hospital, underwriting the financial risk.

Ross was instrumental in obtaining a significant value in donated professional services, supporting the day-to-day operations of the rescue helicopter service, as well as ground-breaking equipment upgrades, such as night-vision goggles and GPS routes that enabled missions in conditions that would not have otherwise been possible. 

From inception until Ross’ retirement in March 2019, the Otago rescue helicopter service transported more than 9,500 patients to hospital.

“That’s a lot of anxious, worried people,” Ross said.

The trust has benefitted the Otago and Southland community across farm and workplace, sporting, and vehicle accidents, sea and land rescues, major medical events and transfers from smaller hospitals. 

Ross noted the “brilliant” regard for the trust in the community.

“During my time we raised $15M from the community - and it wasn’t difficult. Everyone knows about the rescue helicopter and wants to support it.”

“I still get a lump in my throat when I’m at the base and see the machine scrambling to get in the air. It only takes two or three minutes - the crews are running, everyone knows exactly what their job is and they are going as fast as they can to get the best outcome for the person at the other end.”

“The passion for the rescue helicopter service - the dedication of the staff, and to be associated with those people has really been a true joy and an inspiration,” he said.

Ross also acknowledged the other trustees, who freely give their time to support and guide the trust.

“It’s not just me - there’s been a dedicated group of trustees,” he said.

Ross was also trustee and chair of the Healthcare Otago Charitable Trust from 1999 to 2014, during which time he oversaw the implementation of an investment policy that built the trust’s funds to more than $17M and distributions to the community of more than $10M for equipment, training, research and community projects.

Ross was a director of Canterbury Health Boards from 1996 to 2001 and chair of Otago District Health Board from 1998 to 2001.

He and his wife Sue have lived in Wanaka for about 14 years. 

Ross retired in March 2019, and said he looks back and marvels that he “ever had any time to do any work”.

“I’m a poor golfer, and a reasonably keen but aging skier,” Ross said, adding that his second big passion is his four grandchildren. 

See the full list of Queen's Birthday Honours here.

PHOTO: Wanaka App