Here’s some critical information we hope nobody ever needs.
Sounds counter-intuitive, doesn’t it?
But that’s the tag that inevitably hangs on AEDs – the machines that literally can be the difference between life and death in an emergency.
An AED – short for automated external defibrillator – is designed to help someone who has suffered cardiac arrest.
They are battery-powered and contain a computer that enables them to give step-by-step audio and visual commands to the user once switched on. They are designed to be user friendly, so that anyone can use them, even those without CPR or medical training.
And now, thanks to the Portarlington Football and Netball Club – with some help from the Portarlington Golf Club – there’s now a new one anyone can access.
In fact, its location on the car park side of the football clubhouse means its almost perfectly central to a whole range of potential users, including the footballers, netballers, tennis players, cricketers, tennis and pickle ball players, girl guides, visitors to the agricultural society and the many other groups who frequent the Portarlington Recreation Reserve.
“It’s an important thing for the whole community, absolutely,” said Chris Doidge, footy and netball club treasurer who was chiefly responsible for the new addition that came courtesy of the golf club’s Community Contribution Fund (CCF).
The Demons facility manager Rod Smith (left), co-president Adam Kiss and treasurer Chris Doidge inspect the new public-facing AED at the Portarlington Recreation Reserve.“I think there are about 20 `defibs’ around town, but a lot of them are inside businesses, but this one is open to the public and is very easy to access.
“We have a dozen or so clubs and community groups that come here to the pavilion and use it through the year, so it’s very much needed.
“Like the footy and netball clubs themselves, it’s here for the community.
“Hopefully we never have to turn it on, but if we do need it, we hope that it saves a life.”
Doidge said the Demons were particularly thankful for the golf club’s generosity.
“The bond between the footy and netball club and the golf club is great. We appreciate that greatly and it does a lot for our club,” he said.
“We get an opportunity to have a lot of functions at the golf club, which works really well, too.
“But I think the (bond) is actually a great unity ticket for the town, so to speak – the more we work together, the better off we all are.”
The $1650 grant for the new AED was part of a total of $12,500 to be distributed by the 2026 CCF, spread among seven successful applicants.
The total means that in the past six financial years, the Portarlington Golf Club has given charitable support directly to the community of more than $180,000.
In that time, the CCF component has become the biggest single source of community initiatives with more than $60,000 in such grants alone.
The CCF was established to support not-for-profit community or sporting organisations to make positive improvements that will, in turn, benefit the wider community.
This year, highlighting just how much the CCF means to these institutions, the club received a record 32 grant applications totalling in excess of $100,000.
“We really think these donations have become incredibly important within our community, as evidenced by the number of people asking for assistance,” golf club chief executive Michael Phillips said.
“So we’re delighted that so many projects will come to fruition as a result of the grants and, in particular, that so many of them will help fulfil a broader community need.”
