20 sporting fields around Auburn will receive new lifesaving equipment as part of the Blaxland Stronger Communities Programme.
Federal Member for Blaxland, Jason Clare MP, announced that he and the Cumberland Council would co-fund the $40,000 project that will install defibrillators at sporting fields in the Auburn area.
The 20 clubs that will receive a lifesaving defibrillator are:
- Auburn Athletics Track (Wyatt Park)
- Auburn Football United (Auburn Park)
- Berala Carramar Hardcourt (Auburn Tennis Centre)
- Lidcombe Waratah Junior Soccer FC (Coleman Park)
- Parramatta Basketball Association (Cumberland Basketball Association)
- Granville District Soccer Football Association (Everly Park North)
- Everly Park Little Athletics (Everly Park South)
- Cumberland City FC (Guilfoyle Park)
- Auburn Warriors District Rugby League FC (Lidcombe Oval)
- Parramatta Auburn Netball Association (Marie Dunn Netball Courts)
- Auburn District Cricket Club and Auburn Giants Australian FC (Mona Park)
- Berala Bears Junior Rugby League FC(Peter Hislop Park)
- Lidcombe Churches Soccer Club (Phillips Park)
- Regents Park Soccer Club (Princes Park)
- Auburn District Sports Club (Progress Park)
- Parramatta District Cricket Association (Ray Marshall Fields)
- Rosnay Golf Club
- Auburn FC (Webb’s Avenue Fields)
- Woodville Golf Course
- Granville District Soccer Football Association (Melita Stadium)
Mr Clare and Cumberland Mayor, Councillor Greg Cummings, today met with representatives from the local clubs receiving one of the new units.
“This is lifesaving equipment. Every minute counts when someone has a heart attack. According to St John Ambulance the use of a defibrillator and CPR within 2 to 3 minutes of a heart attack increases the survival rate to 75 percent,” Mr Clare said.
“Every year 33,000 Australians suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. It can happen to anyone regardless of your age or fitness.”
“Heart attacks are a leading cause of death in Australia, so these defibrillators could mean the difference between life and death,” Cumberland Mayor, Cr Greg Cummings, said.
“It’s now up to the clubs to make sure their members receive the all-important training to use these devices.”
Cumberland Council Mayor Greg Cummings said he was glad that Cumberland sporting clubs were the recipients of the new defibrillators thanks to the Blaxland Stronger Communities Program.
“Every week hundreds of Cumberland residents young and old come together to play different sports. We are fortunate in Cumberland to have so many great playing fields where such a variety of different sports are played. Our sporting culture makes up a large part of the great community spirit we have in Cumberland.”
“These new defibrillators will give people participating in sport extra peace of mind knowing they will have extra support if an unfortunate incident does occur. We want to encourage all residents to be active and stay fit, thanks to this grant our sporting clubs will be well equipped,” Mayor Greg Cummings said.
In 2014 there were five deaths on football fields within Sydney.
Defibrillators are used to detect a patient’s heart rhythm and, if needed, automatically administer a shock to re-establish a normal rhythm. The defibrillators have been designed to be easy to use and the user is guided using visual and voice prompts.
Jason Clare’s Stronger Communities Programme has been extended for a fourth round.
Local government and not-for-profit organisations will be eligible to seek a grant between $5,000 and $20,000 for small capital works projects that make our community a better place to live.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jamie Wassef 02 9790 2466
