Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said it was great to see local clubs get involved in the first round of the NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Program.

“So far more than 430 defibrillators have been allocated across the state and I am confident the addition of a defibrillator at the Oberon Golf Club will benefit hundreds of local players,” Mr Toole said.

“Oberon has a rich history of enjoying community sport and it’s great to see the installation of more of these portable life-saving devices in our community clubs.”

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Mr Toole met with members of the Oberon Golf Club earlier this month to discuss the potential benefits of the new defibrillator.

“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 Toole said.

“More than 2,500 defibrillators will be installed at community sporting facilities over the next four years as part of the $4 million program.

“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.”

While he was visiting the golf club, club captain Barry Lang and board member Alan Cairney showed Mr Toole the results of funding the club received earlier in the year under the NSW Government‘s Community Building Partnership Program.

Work undertaken as a result of that $15,000 grant included installation of 1.8 metre wide pathways in selected areas of the course to give a safer and smoother ride for players using golf carts.

“The club is also in the process of constructing a new machinery maintenance shed and installing a back to the grid solar power system thanks to a $110,000 Stronger Country Communities Fund grant,” Mr Toole said.