$240,000 gift for life born from family's anguish

By Beck Vass
If Bethlehem kiwifruit orchardists Vern and Barbara Pain could stop anyone suffering the loss they have their mission will be accomplished.
The pair, who lost their oldest child Ian, 22, in a tractor accident in 1982, have donated $240,000 towards the new $300,000 hangar that will house the TrustPower TECT rescue helicopter outside Tauranga Hospital.
Thanks to their donation, building began yesterday on the hangar, which has room for two helicopters alongside an office, crew room and storage area. The modest working couple, who reluctantly agreed to be interviewed in the hope it might help boost the profile of the rescue service, said that they had wanted to make a community donation in honour of their son for some time.
So when their youngest daughter Sandra came home after a volunteer shift with St John Ambulance four years ago and mentioned funding was needed for a new hangar as part of Tauranga Hospital's $138 million upgrade, the family knew it had found its project.
Mr and Mrs Pain did not wish to speak of the tragic accident that took their son's life, saying only that it happened while he was working for them in the Western Bay.
Having a rescue helicopter at the time would not have saved his life. But the couple said anything they could do to prevent others suffering the loss they have been through was worth it.
Having a hangar at the hospital means saving crucial time getting patients to life-saving care.
The TrustPower TECT rescue helicopter has been based at Tauranga Airport for two years, while renovations on the hospital are carried out, meaning valuable time is wasted while pilot Liam Brettkelly gets to the airport.
Knowing every second counts in a critical emergency, the couple said they just wanted to do their bit to help.
"Obviously when you lose a child you go through hell," Mr Pain said.
"If the helicopter can save a life, you know, it not only saves that life, but it relieves those who are left from the trauma that we went through. I just believe that the helicopter is a very important part of the whole health scene.
"Anyone who's been in that position ... lost someone ... would understand. We know what we went through. After 24 years the hurt's still there. It doesn't go away and if even one person can be saved of that trauma, then it's worth it.
"To us, as farmers, we've always been farmers, accidents can happen at any time and the helicopter is an important part of that process," he said.
Adds Mrs Pain: "To us the helicopter is there to save or help anyone's life, it doesn't matter whether you're young, old, rich or poor or whatever."
Shy of publicity, Mr Pain said the family's donation was simply for the memory of their son, and brother of Carolyn and Sandra.
"We're just very simple, general, run-of-the-mill people who have worked to make a living," he said of the donation. "It's just something that we're doing for the community in his memory."
Emergency services are rapt with the Pain family's generosity.
Pilot Liam Brettkelly said the hangar would save significant time delays in getting to patients.
Chief Operating Officer for the Bay of Plenty District Health Board Graham Dyer said: "Once the helicopter is based at Tauranga Hospital the emergency services will be able to operate more effectively, responding to ill or injured patients that much faster, as well as being conveniently on site for time efficient hospital transfers."
The Ian Pain Memorial Hangar is expected to open in May and there are plans to have a public open day.