Big Luke puts chopper to good use

Luke Ainscough could have opened the Clarendon Tavern during the floods, but he didn’t.

Instead, the fellow known as Big Luke took to the skies in his private helicopter to lend a hand; proving he’s a Hawkesbury boy through and through.

“I flew food and medical supplies in to people,” Mr Ainscough said.

“I helped get people across the waters to where they needed to go.” Mr Ainscough recalls one elderly couple in their 80s who had been without food for four or five days.

“They were in the lower McDonald region,” he said. “They were worried about their horses who were across the water.

“We fed them and then took them to their horses and fed the horses and got them out of their stalls.”

Mr Ainscough said that for many people isolated by the floods it was like being stuck on an island without a boat.

“When people see you, they look at you like you’re their saviour,” Mr Ainscough said.

“It lifted the community spirit.”

Mr Ainscough was actively aiding those in need in his helicopter across the main flood days. It cost him an estimated $35,000 or $2000 per hour.

Mr Ainscough said situations like this really show people’s true colours, adding people banded together to lend a helping hand to those in need. Now Mr Ainscough has the Clarendon Tavern back open for business.

• Topics:

• Community
• People
• Floods