Charlotte Varcoe
A NEW defibrillation machine has been installed at the Frew Park building thanks to the Lions Club of Blue Lake City Lioness Club’s fundraising efforts over Christmas.
Raising more than $2200 from its annual Christmas wrapping appeal, volunteers were able to purchase the life-saving machine which was installed at Frew Park earlier this week.
Club president Beryl Mahoney said the idea for the donation came after she attended a team leadership training event at the building.
“I found out the closest defibrillation machine was at the service station,” Ms Mahoney said.
“I took this information back to the club and they thought it would be a fantastic idea to donate a machine and that it would be great for the community.”
Ms Mahoney said donating a defibillation machine was not something the club had done before but was happy they had the opportunity to do so.
“We feel great now the machine is installed and it is good to see the community’s money going to something that is needed,” she said.
Sunset Kitchen – which uses the premises on a regular basis- was but one of many community groups thankful for the donation.
President Maree Thompson thanked the Lioness Club for the donation, stating it was an asset to the well used building.
“We are hoping we will never have to use the machine but having it here will allow us to help people in need while we are waiting for the ambulance,” Ms Thompson said.
“It will be a real asset during the cricket season as well.
“Frew Park gets used quite a lot between the community and community groups even just with people walking around the oval on the weekends.”
Ms Thompson said the machine would provide peace of mind for community groups including Sunset Kitchen with many clients being of different ages.
“I was surprised there was not a machine here beforehand and when the Lioness Club offered to donate one we were really pleased because you never know what is going to happen.”
Lioness Club member and fundraising organiser Wil Cousins said the most recent gift wrapping appeal had been a large success with the annual event bringing attention from the community across the board.
“We also host a raffle and when people tell us they never win raffles, we tell them that their money is going straight into the community which we see as a win,” Ms Cousins said.
“We sit at Mount Gambier Central for two weeks, on two hour shifts each for seven days a week for a gold coin donation but people typically put more than that into the donation box which we think is fantastic.
“We have been doing it for such a long time now and people know we are there and come back each year.”
The machine will also service other clubs such as the Toy Library, the Mount Gambier Cricket Association and Days for Girls.
