General News
4 September, 2025
New gear could save lives
GENEROUS donations from two local Freemasons groups have helped the community of Great Western add a piece of potentially life-saving equipment.
The United Ararat Lodge and the Marnoo Lodge of Stawell both made equal contributions to install an Automated External Defibrillator in the centre of Great Western, on the front façade of Hope Pharmacy at the corner of Main Street and Cubitt Street.
Local resident David Richardson got the ball rolling on the project after an observation from his partner Sonya when the pair arrived in the Western Highway wine village.
“When we moved to Great Western two years ago, one of the things my partner noticed was there was no defibrillator in Great Western,” he said.
“So we spoke to Tracey at the Post Office and she said it was something that was needed badly and that we should get one.
“She said the football club was going to get one but that’s no good when the football club is one block away and you’ve got to get to it.”
David pitched the idea to his Masonic Brothers and was pleasantly surprised to have their full support for the defibrillator idea.
“I’m a member of the Freemasons, both in Ararat and Stawell and I put it to both of those clubs, hoping one of them would say yes,” he said.
“Well in actual fact both of them said yes, so the two mesonic lodges, one being Marnoo which is based in Stawell, and the Ararat lodge went 50-50 on the defibrillator.
David said the AED unit was sourced locally and was gifted to the Great Western Future Committee, and it is now ready for the community to utilise if an emergency arises.
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