When it can take up to an hour for volunteer ambulance officers to travel long distances to a life-threatening emergency, first aid can be the difference between life and death.
In WA’s wheatbelt, the North Midlands community has rallied to ensure those first on the scene are best placed to provide care and support to those in need.
More than 1,300 people have already received free training thanks to the funds raised at an annual charity golf day and auction.
Merle Isbister is a long-term volunteer ambulance driver and trainer at the St John North Midlands sub-centre.
Taking a swing at the annual charity golf day were (from left) Jay Mutter, Kasey Green and Bailey Mutter. (Supplied: Saltlake Media)
She said the golf day has raised $226,000 since the first event in 1998.
“In 2017, the year was looking a bit dry, and people were a bit down, so we came up with a theory that we could use that money to bring people together and provide them with life skills, so we started providing the free first aid courses,” she said.
“Since 2017, we’ve actually delivered 131 classes to people in … Three Springs, Carnamah, Coorow, Eneabba, Morawa, Perenjori and we’ve trained nearly 1,300 people in First Aid courses.“
Ms Isbister said there were just 13 volunteers across the four towns that make up the North Midlands — Carnamah, Coorow, Eneabba and Three Springs — and sometimes making a crew involves picking up a crew member from another town before responding to an incident.
“Although we haven’t had a lot of people come forward to be volunteer ambulance officers, hopefully we’ve been able to provide people with life skills and knowledge to be able to help their loved ones or their workmates in the event of an accident occurring or while they wait for an ambulance to arrive.“
Justin Shaji George and Cathy Macartney are members of the St John North Midlands ambulance sub-centre. (Supplied: Saltlake Media)
Focus on fun
On Saturday, about 90 people teed off at this year’s golf day, adding tens of thousands of dollars to the total raised over the years through nominations, donations, an auction and fundraising games including a ‘nearest-the-pin’ golf ball drop from a helicopter.
Farmer and Three Springs Golf Club president David Mutter says the golf day is a highlight on the annual calendar.
David Mutter says the focus is on fun while raising funds for a significant cause. (ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Joanna Prendergast)
He said managing so many people playing on one day involved a ‘shotgun’ start with participants ready to go at holes around the course at the same time. He said the charity day followed the same rules as general days at the club, with the focus on fun.
“That’s how we roll here; we make it fun for everyone, and just if someone can leave their life behind for two hours … and as you know the rule, you can do or say anything you like to put the opposition off as long as it’s safe,” he said.
“There’s a fair bit of banter goes on.“
A helicopter from Corsaire Aviation drops numbered golf balls onto the green for a nearest-the-pin fundraiser. (Supplied: Saltlake Media)
