In August, Swan Hill Rural City Council in collaboration with the Australian Federal and State Governments opened the Community Flood Recovery and Resilience Grants program.
The program was implemented to initiate a community led recovery focus following the October 2022 flood event. Council's Director Development and Planning, Michelle Grainger expressed her delight at the community's enthusiastic response to this funding program.
"By proactively empowering our community we have been able to support projects identified to promote resilience and recovery, bring community together and prepare for future adverse events. "We've been particularly impressed by the groups who have applied for Automated External Defibrillator (AED's). Increasing the number of AED's in our community provides a sense of reassurance and preparedness," she said.
Ms Grainger explained that so far six AED's have been funded through the program and include the Swan Hill Theatre Group, Piangil Memorial Park and Recreation Reserve Inc, Swan Hill Boxing Club, Nyah District Memorial Hall, Nyah Nyah West United Football Netball Club and the Ultima Progress Association.
"We're thrilled that community groups and organisations have been proactive in looking for ways they can assist in the event of an emergency such as cardiac arrest," said Ms Grainger. Ms Grainger took the opportunity to highlight the importance of also registering AED's with Ambulance Victoria, and is recommending that all community groups, organisations and businesses who have one to register it with Ambulance Victoria.
"By having AED's registered, Ambulance Victoria have the ability to share the location of a nearby AED with Triple Zero Victoria call takers. Together, we can all do our part to help each other in the event of unexpected emergency," added Ms Grainger.
To register an AED with Ambulance Victoria visit, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Registry – Register a location, save a life.
Pictured are members of the Piangil Memorial Park and Recreation Committee and community with the AED that has recently been installed at their facility.
