Friends committee
The Friends Committee is a group of influential business and community leaders who were brought together to drive the Capital Appeal for Aircraft Replacement and utilise their professional networks to promote the cause.
Chairman
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Treasurer
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| Michael Crouch AO |
Helen Lynch AM |
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Patrons
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| John B Fairfax AM |
The Hon Tim Fischer AC |
| Margaret Jackson AC |
Professor Tom Reeve AC |
| David Reid |
Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair AC KStJ |
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The Founding Friends Committee Members
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| John Azarius |
Andrew Murray |
| Michael Crouch AO |
David Reid |
| John Daubney |
Trevor C Rowe AM |
| John B Fairfax AM |
Dr Paul Scully-Power AM |
| Christine Liddy AO |
Dr Stuart Spring |
| Helen Lynch AM |
Clyde Thomson GM |
| John Milhinch |
Richard Warburton AO |
| Max Moore-Wilton AC |
The Hon Robert Webster |
The Friends Committee has conducted a range of fundraising activities to encourage new donors and to thank those who have donated. These events ranged from boardroom lunches with special guests (such as The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, The Hon Tim Fischer AC, and The Hon John Anderson MP); cocktails with our patron, Her Excellency, The Governor of NSW Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO at Government House; and a dinner at Admiralty House hosted by our national patron, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
As at 30 March 2007, more than $10 million has been raised in pledges and donations, including a $5 million Federal Government grant. These funds have been used to finalise payment on a Beechcraft King Air, Mike Victor Juliet (MVJ) which came into service in May 2005 (and was paid for in large part by donations from the community) and named The Lady Nancy in honour of a major benefactor of the Service, the late Lady (Vincent) Fairfax OBE. The funds have also paid for a second replacement aircraft which was ordered last year and has recently arrived from the United States. It is now in the process of being modified and fitted-out as a flying intensive care unit, and will be ready for service in first quarter 2008.
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