BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
SACRIFICING $100 from a yearly pay packet is enough to potentially save a life.
That’s the message from Andrew White, the founding director of the Defib For Life program.
His organisation’s goal is to have every Victorian sporting venue equipped with a defibrillator. While Defib For Life has been able to donate several defibrillators, it does not have the fundraising capabilities to buy every sporting club a defibrillator.
“If we can’t get government and AFL support, then we still need to empower clubs to react. When you look at the price of it compared with the potential… then it’s just an insignificant amount of money.”
A defibrillator normally costs a bit more than $2000, so if every player in a footy team donated $100 of their yearly match payment it would be paid for.
“The defibrillator will sit there for 20 years, and if it’s not used that’s fantastic… but if it does happen to be needed it’s just the most valuable piece of equipment you could ever ask for,” White said.
The organisation has donated defibrillators to EDFL clubs Doutta Stars, Greenvale, Craigieburn and Aberfeldie, and recently entered a landmark agreement with Hume City Council whereby up to 30 defibrillators will be implemented across the municipality.
“This initiative is all about the venue as opposed to the football club,” White said.
“It’s about having the venue protected so that if the cricket club are there over the Summer then they’re protected. The tennis club is next door then they have access to it. It’s about having it strategically placed so that it can benefit as many people as possible.
“We’re trying to educate the people who can make the biggest difference, and that is presidents of clubs, their committees and also ruling bodies such as league executives, so they understand the genuine reasons in the first place for their need. From there we’re hoping that clubs themselves can generate funds through fundraising activities.
“We’re also trying to make sure to complement any emergency response via Triple-0 and to empower clubs to react to their own emergency, hoping that the emergency response will be close by.
“It’s about not leaving it to chance.”
White said a defibrillator could be the difference between life and death.
Perhaps the most important member of the organisation is Sue Buckman, who last year tragically lost her 19-year-old son Stephen after he suffered a heart attack at training for Riddell District Football League club Rupertswood.
He was treated by a doctor at the scene but later died in hospital. There was no defibrillator at the club.
Buckman is a director with Defib For Life and is the inspirational force behind the organisation.
“It was absolutely imperative that Sue became a part of this,” White said.
“Every time I think we’re pushing it uphill, I run into Sue and recognise why we’re doing it.
“It can never be too hard when you’re confronted with parents or siblings who have lost their brother or son.”
To inquire about the Defib For Life program, email Andrew White at: andrew@
defibforlife.org.au
