Committee

Elton Parata

Chairman

Gilbert Southworth

Treasurer

Barry Were

YSAR Liaison

Gin Peck

Membership Coordinator

E [email protected]

Matt Hassard

Operations Coordinator

E [email protected]

Russell Lamb

Administrator

Dave Pitchford

Police Rep

Welcome to the Hamilton Search and Rescue Group

The Hn SAR Gp works with the Police when people are lost or injured in the bush or hills around the Waikato. We provide a complete SAR service from search parties in the field to Field Headquarters staff for running the search.

New members are always welcome – the following is the procedure if you would like to join as a FIRST RESPONSE group member:

• Complete the SAR Personnel Questionnaire and post it to Hamilton SAR Group, 20 MacFarlane Street, Hamilton.
• Put your name down for the next Mini SAREX 1 (Stage 1) – these run every 3 to 4 months.
• Attend the monthly meetings and get to know the other members.
• Feel free to contact any of the above committee members, if you have issues you would like to discuss.
• When we receive your Personnel Questionnaire you will be placed on our mailing list for our monthly newsletters. Your name will be removed from the list if you miss 3 consecutive monthly meetings.
• Your suitability for the FIRST Group will be assessed during the Mini SAREX 1 and the probationary period.

Events we run or attend each year:

• Mini SAREX 1 is an overnight exercise held near Pirongia. This is used to assess new members equipment plus navigation, camping and bush skills.
• Mini SAREX 2 (Stage 2) is also an overnight exercise used to test night navigation skills. It is held near Te Aroha.
• District SAREX brings together the Waikato groups to refine their SAR skills.
• Monthly meetings are used to review previous activities or searches and provide training. The meetings are on the third Monday every month in the 3rd floor training room at the Hamilton Police Station.
• Weekend Search Exercises - at least once per year, and each time at a different location so we get to know the area.
• Actual searches – as they happen. We average 16 callouts per year and these can happen at any time of the day or night.

We have two positions available - FIRST and Base Support.

FIRST (Fast Initial Response Search Team)

• Carry out tasks issued by the Incident Management Team.
• Gather for the Incident Management Team information and clues related to missing people.
• To find missing people.
• To carry out any Rescue and/or First Aid tasks as required.

• Successfully complete Mini SAREX 1 and 2.
• Have extensive bush and off track navigational experience.
• Maintain a good understanding of navigation and survival in the NZ bush.
• Be equipped and prepared for a period in the bush of no less than 24 hours at short notice.
• Maintain a high level of fitness.
• Be available 24hrs, 7 days per week for searches, within 1 hour of a call-out.
• Attend a minimum of 5 days training in any one year. Including at least one SAREX each year
• Attend a minimum of 50% of callouts in any one year.
• Miss no more than 3 consecutive monthly meetings (without committee approval).
• Attend both Track & Clue Awareness and Search Methods courses as soon as practicable.
• Hold a current Outdoor First Aid certificate.
• Acceptable Police record.

• Training
• Track and Clue Awareness (TCA)
• Search Methods (SM)
• Urban Search
• Radio/GPS use and communications systems
• Helicopter work
• Rope work
• Computer skills in SAR software and mapping (when assisting in base).
• One tracking stick (on successful completion of the TCA course).
• A position on the callout list – you will be phoned in the event of a callout.
• Radios and GPS units which are issued as required.
• NZLSAR Field Guide and Work-book.

• Attendance at no less than 4 of the first 6 events following successful completion of Mini SAREX 1
• Acceptable performance at no less than 2 operations or exercises.

• One yellow high visibility vest.
• A pager.
• A membership card valid for one year.

• All FIRST RESPONSE members are required to have a level of bush experience that would enable them to operate alone in the bush for several days while travelling off tracks.
• The group will compliment bush skills and experience with specialist SAR skills via the regular training sessions and courses.
• All FIRST RESPONSE group members are expected to attend TCA and SM training within 12 months of joining.
• Attendance requirements reflect the high cost of providing the training.
• All FIRST RESPONSE group members are expected to gain experience and currency in using radios and GPS units.
• All members must notify the membership convenor of changes of contact details or availability
• All equipment provided remains the property of Hn SAR Gp.
• The order of members on the callout list is calculated monthly based on attendance at Group events.

Base Support Group

• Assist at Field Headquarters.
• Provide a passive search resource.

• Have reasonable bush experience.
• Equipped and prepared for a period in the bush of no less than 24 hours at short notice either in the bush or at a road end.
• Maintain a reasonable level of fitness.
• Be available 24hrs, 7 d/w for searches within 1 hour of a call-out.
• Attend a minimum of 3 days of training in any one year. Including at least one SAREX each year.
• Attend a minimum of 50% of callouts in any one year.
• Attend at least 50% of monthly meetings in any one year.
• A current Outdoor First Aid certificate is preferred but not required.
• Some knowledge of search techniques.
• Acceptable Police record.

• Monitoring bush edges or road/track ends.
• Observing in the bush from a fixed position such as track junction or hill-top. Helicopters may be used to position the person but they must be able to walk out if necessary.

• Radio operators
• Log keepers
• Computer operators
• Messengers
• Provide transport

• Training such as
• Radio/GPS use and communications systems
• Helicopter work
• Rope work
• SAR software
• NZLSAR Field Guide and Workbook.

• Attendance at no less than 4 of the first 6 events following successful completion of the Workshop
• Acceptable performance at no less than 2 operations or exercises.

• A position on the callout list – you will be phoned in the event of a callout.
• A membership card valid for one year.

• A Radio and GPS - issued as required.
• One yellow high visibility vest.