NEWCASTLE BASE LAUNCH
WEDNESDAY 31ST MAY @ 10.30AM - 12PM
ADDRESS: WIRRAWAY AVIATION MUSEUM | CESSNOCK AIRPORT
KEY CONTACTS: ANDREW BAILEY MARKETING@LITTLEWINGS.ORG.AU - 0429 365 381
WWW.LITTLEWINGS.ORG.AU - WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/LITTLEWINGSAUSTRALIA

Media Release

On Wednesday, 31 May 2023, Little Wings will officially launch our second base and establish our home in Newcastle. In opening the second base, Little Wings can operate more efficiently and economically, meaning that we
can support more seriously ill children in regional and remote NSW in accessing services via John Hunter
Children’s Hospital; providing ongoing access to life-saving medical treatment that is only available in city-based hospitals. Since opening, we have seen 110% increase in demand; the new base is allowing us to respond more promptly and to ensure that we deliver on every mission.
This is a significant investment for Little Wings, not only the hangar set up but volunteer investment, training,
and support, as well as the additional plane. The plane was purchased for $1.2 million and was supported by
the Federal Government 2022 budget, approved by the Health Minister, Mark Butler. The funds were received in 2023 and services have commenced.
We currently have 25 volunteers in the Newcastle/Cessnock area that help keep Little Wings in the air and
on the road daily. See below for a profile on one of our local pilots, Tien Wooi.
Little Wings will be able to accommodate another 300 missions annually from across the Hunter region.

 

ABOUT LITTLE WINGS

Little Wings is a not for profit children’s charity providing a free flight and ground transport service to seriously ill children and their families from regional NSW enabling better access to specialised medical treatment only available at the children’s hospitals in major city centers. The Little Wings service supports families during a traumatic time by reducing the emotional stress, travel fatigue and financial burden associated with long distance and repetitive travel. By providing children with short breaks in treatment, Little Wings is able to ease the journey and help keep families together at a time when it is most needed. Little Wings currently partners with four hospitals, including John Hunter Children's Hospital, has 71 volunteers and fly's in and out of 55 regions across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Benefits of new little wings hangar for the hunter and northern rivers community.

  1. In opening the second base, Little Wings can operate more efficiently and economically, meaning that we
    can support more seriously ill children in regional and remote NSW in accessing services via John Hunter
    Children’s Hospital. Since opening, we have seen 110% increase in demand; the new base is allowing us to
    respond promptly and ensure we deliver on every mission.
  2. This is a significant investment for Little Wings, not only the hangar set up but volunteer investment, training
    and support, as well as the additional plane. The plane was purchased for $1.2 million and was supported by
    the Federal Government 2022 budget. The funds were received in 2023 and services have commenced.
  3. We currently have 25 volunteers in the Newcastle/Cessnock area that help keep Little Wings in the air and
    on the road daily. See here for one of our local pilots, Tien Wooi.
  4. Little Wings will be able to accommodate another 300 missions annually

Sharon - Mother & Elizabeth - 3 Years Old - Leukemia
attending special event - happy to be interviewed

Sharon and Elizabeth are from Inverell and sadly Elizabeth has spent the majority of her life in John Hunter Children
Hospital. Little Elizabeth has leukemia and has spent 350 days in 2021 in hospital isolation. As she prepares for her
second intensive treatment, this time at Westmead Kids Hospital. Elizabeth and her mother, Sharon, will be embarking on
an extended stay in Sydney to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Whilst an incredibly challenging time, it is our
absolute honour to be able to assist Elizabeth and her family, offering some relief and easing the journey, even if only
for a moment. We can see that families caring for a seriously ill child are often isolated and silently struggling… made all
the more complicated by distance and a lack of access. Little Wings is a service that is working in the background (and
in the skies) to assist regional NSW and Queensland families, form that health connection from country to city… making
the journey a little easier and ensuring that seriously ill children have all that they need to reach their full potential.

 

Clare pearson - little wings ceo quote

Little Wings has been operating in the Hunter region for over 6 years but this move into the region, establishing our second base, will allow us to function more efficiently and to reach more families in need. Over the past 2 years we have seen service demand more than double, and we want to ensure that we are here to help close the gap on healthcare for regional families.

Little Wings are excited to be apart of the
amazing, kindhearted Newcastle community, create long lasting relationships and help the Northern NSW
families, who need Little Wings vital service the most." CEO - Clear Pearson