Rescue chopper takes the cake

THE annual Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Open Day launches this Saturday, August 25.

The service will celebrate 30 years of operation with a cake-cutting at 1pm, but the activities start at 10am.

Meet the crew, try out their new training simulator and the kids can take the challenge course to see if being a rescue crewman is for them. Face-painting will compete with Pilot Kevvy, the service's mascot, for the kids' attention, and parents can take a breather at the sausage sizzle. Meanwhile, check out displays from other emergency services and videos of the chopper in action.

All this for a gold coin donation, at the helibase in 60 Brunswick St, Lismore.