By VANESSA CHIRCOP
FOR many people, having quick access to a defibrillator could be the difference between life and death.
Last week it was announced that 40 automatic defibrillator units will be donated to sites across Hobsons Bay and Wyndham, with phase two of the Bendigo Community Bank initiative being rolled out.
The announcement, which was made at the Altona Life Saving Club, followed the phase one announcement made earlier in the year where 15 defibrillators were donated through the Defib Your Club for Life program.
Last week, program founder and MICA paramedic, Andrew White, said the additional defibrillators may potentially save even more lives of those who suffer cardiac arrest.
In his speech Mr White said he formed Defib Your Club for Life in memory of 19-year-old Stephen Buckman, a young Rupertswood footballer who collapsed and died during training in May 2010.
“That night I was down at my football club where Stephen plays and unfortunately I was called into the clubrooms where Stephen had been feeling unwell,” he said.
“When I walked into the change rooms unfortunately Stephen was in cardiac arrest, a group of us worked desperately to save Stephen but as time passed by we realised – it became clearer that Stephen wasn’t going to make it.
“The circumstances surrounding Stephen’s death clearly changed people’s lives in that community forever, including my own.
“Would a defibrillator on that night have made a difference? We’ll never know.”
Mr White has since made it his mission to see sporting clubs and community venues supplied defibrillators.
Hobsons Bay Mayor Tony Briffa said he gave credit to the Bendigo Bank for all the community work that they do and for supporting the project.
“It will hopefully mean if there is an incident anywhere locally that these defibrillators will be able to save lives,” he said.
