By Tanya Faulkner
Fires aren’t the only thing being fought by local volunteers, so are heart attacks.
A new 24 hour defibrillator has arrived for the Ferntree Gully community, thanks to several community groups with a passion for improving their hometown.
Earlier this year, the Ferntree Gully CFA, in collaboration with the Ferntree Gully Traders Association were afforded a grant from the Community Bank Knox Group to supply an automatic external defibrillator (AED) for installation in an open space that enabled 24/7 community access.
Ferntree CFA’s Graham Crichton pitched the idea for a defibrillator for the local community, which was approved by the Traders Association.
“It’s been a collaboration for the community between Bendigo Bank and the Ferntree Gully Traders Association to get this defibrillator for the community,” he said.
Mr. Crichton said it’s been months in the making from when the idea was first pitched to getting it installed.
“I first pitched the idea in February this year, which got the approval from the Traders, and we put the proposal forward to the community bank,” he said.
The CFA was then awarded a $2500 grant from the local Bendigo Bank to aid in the installation of the AED, which has now been installed out the front of the Ferntree Gully CFA.
This marks the only 24 hour defibrillator in Ferntree Gully for public use in emergencies, who can use the device in case of an emergency by dialling 000.
Bendigo Bank Ferntree Gully branch manager Tina Doran said, thankfully, this new defibrillator is not the only one in the community.
“We also have a defibrillator at the bank, and so does one of the local gyms,” she said.
Ferntree Gully Traders Association president Jeni McLean said it’s good to have a 24 hour defibrillator so everyone can access it any time.
The AED is registered with Ambulance Victoria and we hope not required but it is there ready for use just in case, will be maintained by the bank, and kept protected in an alarmed cabinet and secured in location.
Great collaboration to help support the local community.
