Wairarapa’s locally owned community newspaper
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2019
INSIDE: Castlepoint shines a light on cancer P4
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Tracking down loved ones Emily Ireland A small teal pendant is giving families around Wairarapa peace of mind. The pendant is part of the WanderSearch Tracking System and is used by Wairarapa Search and Rescue volunteers to find missing people living with cognitive conditions such as autism and Alzheimer’s.
WanderSearch became established with Wairarapa Search and Rescue in 2012. Seven years on, the trust has 28 pendants – 18 of which are currently in the field in Wairarapa. Six of them are keeping track of people with Alzheimer’s, 10 are
keeping track of children with autism, and two are keeping track of “wanderers”. Wairarapa Search and Rescue volunteer Sam Milligan said the system worked by using the tracking unit to find the signal of the pendant being searched for. It emits a beeping noise
and the signal gets stronger the closer the tracking unit is to the pendant. The range of the pulse can be detected up to 5km from a high point using line of sight, and without the receiver unit and knowing the unique frequency for a particular device, no one can track the device or client. “We will get a call from
police and they will tell us where the person was last seen. “We have a small antenna we put on the roof of our vehicle and we drive around until we pick up the signal. “Then we put on a
directional aerial, which gives us the direction and we hone in on that.” Milligan said the service was able to be provided thanks to “generous donations” from service groups around the region. He said the tracking kit was about $3000, and pendants are “$290 a pop”. “It’s old technology, but it’s reliable and it has a sixor seven-month battery life.” Continued on page 4
Tracey van der Raaij, Tam Williams, Murray Johnston, Neil Richardson, and Sam Milligan show off the WanderSearch Tracking System. PHOTO/EMILY IRELAND
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