2LT Local News

Local sports clubs can access subsidies for defibrillators

Jul 23, 2018

Local sporting clubs are being encouraged to take advantage of a State Government program to make defibrillators more widely available.

Defibrillators can save lives.

The NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillators Grants Program is offering clubs and sporting organisations half the cost of purchasing an Automatic External Defibrillator.

Local Member for Bathurst Paul Toole is encouraging all eligible organisations to consider taking advantage of grants because he says “you really never know when someone is going to go into cardiac arrest and could be in need of this life-saving device.”

A defibrillator is what saved the life of Kerry Packer who had a heart attack at a polo match many years ago. In a freakish situation, the ambulance at the event was one of only two ambulances in the state that was equipped with a defibrillator. Mr Packer subsequently, in appreciation, joined with the then-Nick Greiner led-government to equip every NSW ambulance in the state with a defibrillator.

Local sporting clubs and organisations can take advantage of the current programme and receive 50% of the cost of a defibrillator by submitting their application prior to the closing date of 14 September 2018. For more information click here. .