Schools get defib donation

THE Community Bank Maldon and District have distributed twelve automatic defibrillators to schools across the region, including in Dunolly and Bealiba.

The potentially lifesaving machines are used on a person during cardiac arrest and are available at any time to all members of the public.

Bank branch manager Adam Balzan said the initiative was about giving back to the community and making the costly devices accessible fit the organisation’s values.

“When our team discussed a way we could say thank you to our community for their ongoing support, providing this expensive technology clearly aligned with the values of our Community Bank,” he said.

As part of the initiative, defibrillators were installed outside Dunolly, Maldon, Newstead, Harcourt Valley, Bealiba, Castlemaine, Winters Flat, Campbells Creek, Chewton, Elphinstone and Taradale primary school buildings. Castlemaine Secondary College also received a device.

The organisation worked with CHIRP Community Health nurse Bronwyn Grieve to roll out the machines.

Ms Grieve is currently mapping defibrillators across the region with Ambulance Victoria so they can be located to help one of the more than 6000 people who go into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year in the state.

Bank chair Ross Egleton said any future use of the machines would make the initiative worth it.

“Over the next 10 years, if even one of the defibrillators can be used to save one life, it will be well worth all the money we’ve invested,” he said.

The initiative was funded using Community Bank profits and Mr Egleton said, “people are making a difference just by banking here, it’s so simple.”