The Benalla Equestrian Centre will be safer than ever for all its user groups thanks to the donation of a defibrillator from Western Ag.
Chris Drew, manager of business development at Western Ag, said it was donated under the company’s supporting communities campaign, which it launched in 2022.
“We’ve been in Benalla for just over two years,” Mr Drew said.
“And the idea behind this campaign is that we have a project every year where we can make a difference in the communities where we live and operate.
“Last year, we came up with the concept, and this is already the 16th defib we’ve donated.
“We are also encouraging the recipients to register the defib with Ambulance Victoria, so they are on its website and people know where to access one.
“You can never have enough of these devices in the community, so even in a place like this, you’re probably still 5 to 10 minutes from town, and every minute counts.”
Benalla Equestrian Centre secretary Kyra Rheese said having a defibrillator on-site makes it much safer with so many people using the facility.
“We’re heavily booked at this venue every weekend and booked well into next year as well,” she said.
“So it’ll be fabulous to have a defibrillator. We have been looking to get one for two years, but they cost a lot of money.”
An element of luck connected Western Ag with the Equestrian centre.
“We were on the lookout for a community organisation that we could donate to,” Mr Drew said.
“We went to the Men’s shed, but they already had one right next door.
“One of the men’s shed member’s wives was on the Equestrian Centre Committee and told us they had been looking for one.
“And here it is.”