LOWE CORPORATION RESCUE HELICOPTER

Lowe Corporation has been the Principal Sponsor of the Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust since the rescue helicopter became a dedicated service in 1992. The sponsorship, firstly under the name Lowe Walker and later as Lowe Corporation, allowed the service to be established in Hawke’s Bay. It is now known as the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service.

The sponsorship has allowed the trust and the rescue helicopter to perform a vital function in the region. The helicopter crew assists in more than 320 missions within the region each year. More than 80 per cent of these missions provide urgent medical assistance at accident scenes or inter-hospital transfers for the critically ill.

The service covers a large area, from the Takapau Plains and Porangahau in the south, to Waikaremoana and Mahia Peninsula to the north east of Hawke’s Bay. It is completely free of charge to everyone in the community and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The helicopter is also used in police operations, national search and rescue operations, education and training, as well as demonstrations.

The service, which is a registered charity, received a boost in 1992 when the first helicopter hangar was built at the then Hawke’s Bay Regional Hospital. A larger facility was established in the hospital grounds in 2011. Both hangars were built thanks to donation from the local business community, including Lowe Corporation.

When Lowe Walker changed its name to Lowe Corporation the sponsorship continued. The Trust decided to recognise Graeme Lowe’s outstanding contribution to the service by naming the hangar housing the rescue helicopter the Graeme Lowe Rescue Helicopter Centre.

At the time of Graeme Lowe’s death, the trust’s general manager Ian Wilmot said: “Without Graeme's original vision and his enduring support since 1992 the rescue helicopter service, for the people of Hawke's Bay on a free 24/7 basis, would not exist.”

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HAWKE’S BAY RUGBY AND THE MAGPIES

The Lowe family’s connection to Hawke’s Bay Rugby stretches back 40 years and began when Graeme Lowe first started showing an interest in local rugby.

Graeme Lowe was a passionate supporter of the All Blacks and the Magpies and that support has manifest itself in Lowe Corporation’s commitment to rugby in the region.

Graeme Lowe’s contribution to Hawke’s Bay rugby has been honoured by a stand at Mclean Park being named after him, while a sought-after prize in Hawke’s Bay rugby is the Graeme Lowe Trophy, which is awarded to the best academy player each year.

Hawke’s Bay Rugby president Jay Campbell acknowledges the generous support of the Lowe family.

“Graeme Lowe made an outstanding contribution to Hawke’s Bay Rugby for over 40 years; loyal supporter, sponsor and latterly Patron and it is only fitting that his name is now forever enshrined on the stand in front of where the Magpies play their rugby.”

 Mr Campbell said that support has continued after Graeme’s death.

“Andy has continued the amazing legacy Graeme set by continuing to support rugby at the grassroots level and the annual awarding of the Graeme Lowe Trophy to our most decorated academy player is a fitting way to recognise the enormous commitment Graeme made to rugby in our province over many years.”

Eddie Tonks, a former chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, has in the past noted Graeme Lowe’s generosity.

“I was involved in rugby for many years. Graeme poured a lot of money into Hawke’s Bay and Northland rugby and followed the All Blacks all over the world,” Mr Tonks said.