Heart-starter to bank on

By Danielle Galvin
DEFRIBILLATORS will be purchased for 11 different sporting and community clubs from Lang Lang to Narre Warren and Pearcedale, thanks to funding from Bendigo Bank community branches.
Last week, Andrew White from Defib Your Club For Life was presented with a cheque for $25,300 at the community grants presentation evening.
The money will go towards the purchase of 11 defibrillators for sporting clubs in the area.
Defib Your Club For Life is a not-for-profit organisation that was founded by Mr White, a mobile intensive care paramedic, after the death of a 19-year-old in May 2010 during football training in Rupertswood.
Automatic defibrillators can be used by laypeople and can be the difference between life and death.
“They can save someone’s life one day,” Mr White said of the automatic defibrillators.
Funds donated to the not-for-profit organisation will provide defibrillators at the Lang Lang Football Club and bowling club, Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve, and Cardinia Recreation Reserve among others.
It all started when the Lang Lang Football Club put in a grant application to fund the purchase of a defibrillator.
The grants and sponsorship sub-committee at the Bendigo Bank thought that the project was worthwhile and looked into expanding it.
“After discussions with Andrew, it became apparent that this was a project that we could easily support. With Andrew’s support, this idea has now become a life-saving reality,” said Tania Hansen, executive officer of Community Financial Services Victoria Limited.
The funds are profits generated from the local community bank branches in Lang Lang, Pearcedale, Kooweerup, Narre Warren South and Tooradin.
Defib Your Club For Life has given more than 100 units across the state which will benefit 300 clubs.
It’s an important initiative, especially in semi-rural townships.
“With every minute that passes, there is a 10 per cent less chance of survival,” Mr White explained.
The 11 defribillators will be made available in the next couple of weeks, along with a training package, triple zero registration and crisis counselling for the clubs.
Mr White said that it was a step in the right direction.
“Australia fails dismally. There is a weak link in the chain of survival, and that’s early defibrillation.”
Some 61 community groups will share in the $278,000 raised by the community bank branches.
Lang Lang Primary School, Bayles Regional Primary School, Cardinia Primary School and Kooweerup Primary School were given funding for a set of 20 bikes, helmets and trailers.
Grants were also given to the Lang Lang Men’s Shed, the Kooweerup Bowling Club for new synthetic grass and the Kooweerup Scouts for a new hot water service.