Aidan Curtis
A PENOLA bank branch has reached a significant milestone, donating its 300,000th dollar in the community.
Bendigo Bank donated $1000 to the Penola Football Club on Thursday, July 27, to aid in the purchase and installation of a new defibrillator machine at McCorquindale Park.
Bendigo Bank branch manager Tara Batt said the donation was a little bit different this time around as they wanted to “do something special” to reach the milestone.
Ms Batt said they opened the donation up to community nomination, with many groups and organisations throwing their hats in the ring before the football club eventually came out on top.
“But the Penola Football Club’s nomination for an external defibrillator machine would benefit not only themselves, but cricket, netball, tennis, the rodeo, the arts festival, the Penola show, anybody that uses the facilities,” she said.
“You never know when somebody is going to need [a defibrillator], so that perfectly aligned with the bank’s community model.
“It’s fabulous that we can use our profits in that way to support community events.”
Penola Football Club bar manager and Netball Club treasurer Kate Devereux said aiming for a new defibrillator at McCorquindale Park had a personal reason behind it for the club.
“The story behind this one is [Penola Football Club secretary] Tanya’s beautiful brother, Shane, passed away a few years ago, and it was from a heart attack,” Ms Devereux said.
“We’ve already got a defib machine in our clubrooms, it’s not easily accessible if the show is there, the netball, tennis, cricket, whatever it might be.
“If that particular changeroom is locked, you can’t get in there to use that defib machine, so just to have an extra one that’s easily accessible, that was the driving force behind that.”
While receiving the donation was a bittersweet moment for the club, Ms Devereux said she appreciated how much support the community had given to their defibrillator plan.
She also said she appreciated Ms Batt adding her own personal touch to the donation.
“[Tara] was married to Shane, so it was a pretty special moment when she emailed me saying we were the successful recipient,” Ms Devereux said.
“And she’s also donating – she’s matching what the Bendigo Bank branch are giving us personally, which is pretty incredible.
“It means a lot to Tanya and the whole Batt family.”
The Penola Football Club is currently working with local SA Ambulance Service volunteers to decide on the best defibrillator machine to get with the money and where would be best to install it.
