Local sports clubs in the Cootamundra electorate have been awarded $29,900 in NSW Government funding to assist with the purchase of 23 life-saving defibrillators.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said it was tremendous to see so many local clubs had applied for the first round of the NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillation Program.
Under the program, $4 million was allocated over four years to help sporting clubs across NSW with the purchase and maintenance of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs).
An AED is a life-saving device which delivers a controlled shock to an individual experiencing cardiac arrest, increasing their chances of survival.
So far more than 430 defibrillators have been allocated across the state.
The Cootamundra electorate funding recipients are:
- Barellan Swimming Club
- Bland Shire Council (Park Street Recreation Project, Ron Crowe Oval Precinct, West Wyalong Stadium)
- Burrangong Football Club
- Caragabal Country Golf Club
- Coolamon Redgrave Park Tennis Club
- Coolamon Rovers Football and Netball Club
- Cootamundra Pistol Club Incorporated
- Cootamundra Rugby Club
- Cootamundra Country Club
- Cowra Shire Council (Cowra Motorcycle Racing Club, Edgell Park, River Park)
- Cowra Australian Rules Football Club
- Roberts Park Harden
- Temora Schoolboys Rugby League Football Club
- Young Croquet Club
- Young Junior Rugby League Club
- Young Lions Soccer Club
- Young Rugby Union Football Club
- Young Tennis Club Incorporated
“I’m confident the addition of more than 20 defibrillators at ovals and clubs around our electorate will benefit thousands of local players and spectators,” Ms Cooke said.
“One thing’s for sure – people in the Cootamundra electorate love our community sport and we look forward to the installation of more of these portable life-saving devices in our region.”
NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres said the Local Sport Defibrillation Program will help save lives.
“More than 33,000 Australians experience cardiac arrest every year and early access to CPR and defibrillation can influence survival rates by up to 75 percent,” Mr Ayres said.
“The NSW Government initiative supports up to 50 per cent of the defibrillator cost, training and maintenance and I encourage local sports clubs and councils that had not yet applied to consider the program.”
The next round of applications opens in the middle of this year.
For more information visit: sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants/defibrillator
