General News
9 May, 2025
AED welcomed in Dunolly
Local lives are that much safer thanks to the Maryborough Lions Club’s donation enabling an AED to be installed at the Dunolly Horse Activity Club.
It’s one more cabinet, one more AED, in an almost half-decade effort from the club to improve cardiac arrest survivability.
According to St John Ambulance Australia, if a defibrillator is used within a few minutes of a sudden cardiac arrest, the chance of survival increases to over 70 percent — without, less than five percent of cardiac arrest victims survive.
Dunolly Horse Activity Club secretary, Sonya Richards-Stuart, said it was fabulous to get the crucial equipment installed.
“It is very reassuring to have the right equipment when we host events at the grounds. Most importantly life saving equipment, we are very grateful to the Mary-borough Lions Club for funding it,” she said.
Every minute counts following a cardiac arrest — before the nearest AED was multiple kilometres away in Dunolly.
“By the time you drive in and out, you’ve got that window of opportunity to try and save someone,” Ms Richards-Stuart said.
“CPR is number one but it goes hand in hand with the defibrillator to give the best chance of survival.”
Maryborough Lions Club secretary, Lorraine Parker, said at the installation last week the club would continue to help the community when possible.
“We know how important this equipment is to your club, and we wish you well for future events, knowing that you have the necessary equipment available,” she said.
The defibrillator will be accessible to groups across the community who use the ground, including the Central Goldfields Historical Machinery Society’s Goldfields Rally in October.
“It is a great outcome when groups can work together to achieve great things,” Ms Richards-Stuart said.