Clubs buy defibrillator for community use at Wallabi Point

The three joined forces to purchase a defibrillator which will be kept at the cafe for use by the community.

"Our club had been thinking about purchasing a defib for a while,'' Saltwater Boardriders Club secretary Kirby Stanley explained.

"And I was talking to guys from the mal club and it was something they were thinking about as well.''

So it became a pet project for both clubs. However, Kirby said both also reasoned that the community should have access to the defib as well.

"The closest one to Wallabi would be at Old Bar,'' she said.

"And that's about 20 minutes away - way too long in an emergency.''

The cafe management then stepped forward, offering to help financially while also suggesting the defib be kept there permanently for use by the general community. Kirby agreed this was sensible.

"We have seven contests a year and the mal club runs about the same,'' Kirby said.

"So it would be pointless keeping the defib in a storage shed somewhere for the rest of the time.''

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Kirby explained the boardriders will take the defib when monthly contests are held at more inaccessible places like Second Corner near Old Bar.

It'll also be at the mal club's competitions and these are usually held at Saltwater Point.

She added there'll be signage at the shop indicating the defib is there.

"And word will get around Wallabi pretty quickly,'' Kirby assured.

She added it's a good fit for both clubs.

"We have a lot of young kids in our club. The mal club has more older members, so it will cross a spectrum of ages,'' she said.

If the defib is required for a young child it will only require a press of a button to get it operational. It comes with audio explaining its use.

"It's self explanatory,'' Kirby said.

"And in an emergency situation, with the adrenaline flowing, that's very important.''