By KATH GANNAWAY
IN MOST cases local opportunity shops want to see the money they donate to community groups working hard in the community.
But a recent significant donation by Wandin’s Golden Opportunity Shops to Yellingbo CFA is an exception.
Shirley Holland, volunteer co-ordinator for the shop run by St Paul’s Anglican Church in Seville, and Yellingbo CFA captain Paul Spinks each say they hope the defibrillator funded by the shop is never called on.
The defibrillator is now part of the brigade’s rehabilitation unit vehicle that attends all types of incidents from structure and bushfires to car crashes and other emergencies.
“It’s such an important piece of equipment because the rehab unit goes into environments where fire-fighters and members of the public alike are at greatest risk of cardiac arrest,” Mr. Spinks said.
“You hope you will never have to use it, but realistically it’s only a matter of time when and where this gets used and if it saves one life in its whole lifetime, what a great way to spend that money,” he said.
Mrs Holland said the shop which has more than 40 volunteers from around the parish which takes in Wandin, Seville and Mount Evelyn, supports many local community groups including brigades and schools.
“The brigade gets called to so many different situations and we felt to have a defibrillator on board that vehicle was an extremely good thing to support,” she said.
The brigade gave an official thankyou to the Golden Opportunity Shop team at a special morning tea recently and presented a certificate of appreciation.
“We asked them to help fund the defibrillator and how fantastic are they that they responded so generously and managed to give us the whole amount,” Mr Spinks said.
“Hopefully you never have to use it; but the day it’s needed I’m sure it will be the best money ever spent.”
