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The Jawoyn people have named one of CareFlight’s King Air B200 Air Ambulances PamJang Peyintin – Maj Nguluk, meaning Healing Wind, at a naming ceremony held in Katherine.

The Katherine Town Council agreed to the use of the name Town of Katherine.

As part of CareFlight’s mission to serve the community, this initiative demonstrates the charity’s commitment to its Reconciliation Action Plan. A key component of reconciliation is timely access to quality health services based on need regardless of where people live. CareFlight is committed to providing that access to quality care in a culturally appropriate way.

“CareFlight appreciates the generosity of the Jawoyn Association and the Katherine Town Council for agreeing to name the CareFlight aircraft. Building and strengthening CareFlight’s relationships with regional communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples means we can work together to deliver timely access to quality health services based on need regardless of where people live,” CareFlight NT General Manager Philip Roberts explained.  

The event was attended by representatives from the Jawoyn Association, Katherine Town Council Mayor Fay Miller, Councillors and Council staff along with representatives of Top End Health Service and local Aboriginal Medical Services.

Jawoyn Association Chairperson Lisa Mumbin explained that the name PamJang Peyintin – Maj Nguluk, or Healing Wind, was inspired by the times she watched the CareFlight aeromedical crew fly in and out of the local community, helping and healing people.

“I would often see CareFlight’s helicopter and aircraft land and take off from the local hospital, pushing through the air and becoming part of the wind. The word healing is an incredibly important word in our lives, particularly as our people are constantly working towards physical, mental and spiritual healing. We knew that a name meaning Healing Wind would be a significant reminder that healing is the way to go in living our lives.

“We are so honoured to have had the opportunity to name one of CareFlight’s King Air B200 Air Ambulances and this has truly strengthened CareFlight’s relationship with the local Jawoyn People and Katherine community,” said Ms Mumbin.

CareFlight has serviced the Katherine area for eight years and operates out of a hangar at Tindal Airport. In the past year, more than 3,400 patients in the Northern Territory have been transported by CareFlight.

“This co-naming is an honour for the residents and township of Katherine, especially when considering the incredible and vital work CareFlight performs, not only for the Katherine community, but for the entire Northern Territory on a 24/7 basis. CareFlight’s reputation is exemplary,” Katherine Town Council explained.