As CapRescue looks beyond its 30th anniversary and towards the future of the service, planning ahead means more than maintaining the helicopter.
Behind every Rescue300 mission is a network of specialised equipment that rarely attracts attention but is essential to delivering emergency care safely and effectively. One of the most critical is the Night Vision Goggle (NVG) systems used by aircrew during after-dark operations.
The organisation is seeking to raise almost $85,000 to refurbish the seven Night Vision Goggle systems used by Rescue300 crews. The once-in-a-decade investment will replace ageing image intensifier tubes and include complete servicing, calibration, testing and certification. The refurbishment will ensure the equipment continues supporting night rescue operations for years to come. Having been in service for around 12 years, the refurbished systems are expected to provide approximately another decade of operational life.
Acting CEO Kirsty Wooler said Night Vision Goggles were one example of the ongoing investment required to keep Rescue300 operational.
“Every piece of equipment we use has a lifespan, and part of keeping Rescue300 mission-ready is replacing or refurbishing those assets before they impact our operational capability.
“Night Vision Goggles are a critical part of our ability to respond after dark. Investing in this technology means our crews have the equipment they need to continue reaching patients safely.”
The investment reflects the reality of emergency response across Central Queensland, where emergencies don’t stop when the sun goes down.
During the 2025/26 financial year, Rescue300 completed 591 missions across the region. Almost 200 of those missions—more than one in every three—were flown between 6 pm and 6 am.
Check and Training Aircrew Officer Cameron Fewtrell said flying at night presented a completely different environment to daylight operations.
“When we arrive over an incident at night, we might be looking for a single vehicle on a dark highway, a person in rugged country or a safe place to land in the middle of a paddock. Without Night Vision Goggles, many of the visual cues we rely on during the day simply aren’t there.
“The goggles amplify the available light, allowing us to identify terrain, obstacles and potential landing sites that would otherwise be very difficult to see. They don’t remove the challenges of night flying, but they give us the information we need to make safe, informed decisions.”
The refurbishment will support Rescue300’s ongoing response across Central Queensland’s mining, energy, transport, agricultural and marine sectors, where operations frequently continue around the clock. More than 300,000 people living and working across more than 350,000 square kilometres rely on the service’s ability to respond at any hour of the day or night.
Ms Wooler said maintaining a modern aeromedical service meant continually investing in equipment that many people would never see but every patient depended on.
“When someone needs Rescue300, they expect us to be ready. That readiness depends on continually investing in our people, our aircraft and the specialised equipment that supports every mission.