TYABB, VIC — One of the world’s first helicopter ambulance services, known as the Angel of Mercy, will be honoured on Saturday with a commemorative event at Tyabb Airport.
The air ambulance service, launched in 1970 by Dr Tom Ready and Bill Vowell, revolutionised emergency medical care on the Mornington Peninsula. At a time when rough and challenging roads made ground transportation difficult, the service provided rapid medical response, saving countless lives and establishing a model for modern air ambulance operations.
Speaking with RPP FM, Stephen Braim, President of the Peninsula Aero Club (PAC), emphasised the significance of this event.
“The original helicopter was found a couple of years ago in a state of disrepair, and a series of volunteers have rebuilt the frame, restored the entire helicopter, re-sprayed it, and now it proudly sits as a gate guardian at Tyabb,”
he said.
The celebration will feature the families of the service’s founders, original pilots, and even a former patient, whose life was saved by the Angel of Mercy as a toddler. The highlight of the day will be a ceremony at 11 AM, unveiling a plaque to honour those who made aviation history in Australia.
Gates will open at 10:00 AM for the free community event, which will include live music, aircraft displays, and a sausage sizzle. The festive atmosphere promises to bring the community together in recognition of a remarkable local achievement.
“This is a moment of pride for our region,”
Mr Braim said.
“We are celebrating not only aviation history but also the incredible people who dedicated their efforts to saving lives.”
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This story was originally reported by RPP FM and repurposed by STPL News with permission.
