her inspiration Risky Business
Think taming lions is rough work? Try being a courier driver in Auckland
When you reaD The words 'Dangerous Jobs' what springs to mind? Firefighters quenching wild blazes? Burly men taming lions?
Police negotiating with terrorists? It is a fact that it is more dangerous for Joe Bloggs to drive to
work then it is to be a target girl in the circus, so why don't our knees quiver at the idea of a Monday morning on the motorway? While each job requires a degree of risk it is often a series of
unfortunate events – a falling tree branch or misplaced step – that was the cause of many of the fatalities in Kiwi workplaces in 2011. according to the Department of Labour there have been 85
deaths, 445 serious non-fatal injuries and 30,800 aCC entitlement claims in the last 12 months. Out of approximately 470,000 workplaces serving two million
workers, the sectors with consistently high work tolls are: construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing and manufacturing. Unsurprisingly statistics show the further you venture from the safety of both feet on solid ground, the greater risk you are to injury.
Her Magazine finds out what drives three women to put life and limb on the line in their roles underground, in the air and out at sea.
FLTLT Mary Woolston
Air Force Pilot Flight Lieutenant Mary Woolston has seen firsthand the
destruction caused by our nation's greatest recent disasters. "Seeing the devastation of Christchurch after the September
earthquake was something I will never forget," Mary tells. "Being in Greymouth on standby to help during the Pike River tragedy and helping evacuate the crew off the Rena when it struck the reef, and also flying oiled penguins and seals to the DoC wildlife recovery centre have been my most memorable moments." The 25-year-old Royal New Zealand Air Force Helicopter Pilot
has never been injured on the job, but does not take for granted the precarious role she has. "Part of our role is search and rescue and this means that sometimes we are required to fly in some pretty challenging
24 | February/March 2012 | HER MAGAZINE
Dominion Post
