Bowenvale Restoration-and a Rescue Helicopter as well!

What a difference a couple of years makes!

 A couple of years ago I was involved with some others from our club in planting some native shrubs on a site just off the Bowenvale track. The Club had been allocated this site after making a request to the Council, who then supplied the shrubs and technical know how. The plan is to create pockets of native shrubs all over the Port Hills.

 The weather on planting day was ATROCIOUS! About 10 hardy souls battled rain, sleet, hail and very, very low temperatures but managed (much to the amazement of the Council people who helped) to get all the planting done, with only mild hypothermia to show.

This year, about 21 people turned out on a superb Autumn day for a cleanup and weeding of the plants. (Called "restoring" by the technical types.) A superb afternoon with a great effort put in by all who attended and we achieved all we were required to do-and more! Thanks to Colin Mackie for organising this, and to all who turned up-an excellent turnout. Hopefully we will get as many for the May planting (currently planned for 20th May).

BUT WAIT! There's more! As we were about to finish a cry was heard and, to cut a long story short, it transpired that one of our number (who, in the interests of her privacy rights, shall remain anonymous, but is often heard to say-"Are we there yet?") had tripped over and stabbed herself in the thigh with her shears. (Dr) Andrew Kim was immediately on the scene and sorted out the problem with the cut, which, fortunately hadn't bled much at all. (This  incident also served as a timely reminder why it's important to take a first aid kit-even on a simple walk like this.)

Meanwhile-to the story. The council lady in charge (Di) decided not to take any chances and called an ambulance. Fair enough, and we soon heard a siren in the distance. But then we heard the unmistakeable sound of the rescue helicopter as well, which soon hove into view! "Oh no" our damsel in distress cried, as she made her (assisted) way down the hill protesting that she was fine.

 But the helicopter guys would have none of this, and even considered winching her out but settled down on a spot a little down the track,cleverly flying underneath the high tension lines there, where our injured colleague was was loaded into the helicopter (well, in fact loaded herself.).

A cloud of dust and they were away, wisking her off to Christchurch Hospital where she was treated and discharged. It could've been a lot worse and we were impressed with the speed that the emergency services sprung into action.

Footnote. Some people swear they heard a helicopter flying over Christchurch that afternoon with a voice calling out "Are we there yet???????."

Alls well that end well.

 Paul Knox