New community defibrillators to enhance safety at local parks

Published on 23 February 2026

Two new Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have been installed at the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage & Water Park and the Goondiwindi Botanic Gardens, thanks to a generous donation from the Goondiwindi Local Ambulance Committee (LAC).

The donation aims to improve community safety for locals and tourists with access to life saving equipment in two of the region’s popular public spaces.

Council’s portfolio holder for Health, Ageing, Arts and Culture, Cr Phil O’Shea, said the initiative demonstrates the strength of community partnerships and the shared goal of keeping residents safe.

“The Goondiwindi Water Park and Botanic Gardens are well-loved spaces that bring people together for recreation, exercise and events,” said Cr O’Shea. “Having AEDs installed at these sites provides extra peace of mind for families and visitors, knowing that life-saving equipment is available if an emergency were to occur.”

This initiative has been led by Marty Hansen, Officer in Charge at the Goondiwindi Ambulance Station, who has worked closely with the LAC to ensure the AEDs have been strategically placed for maximum community benefit.

Locations were carefully selected following an assessment of park use, activities conducted at each site, and the security benefits provided by the nighttime locking of both premises.

“AEDs are designed to be used by anyone in an emergency and are safe to use,” Cr O’Shea said. “Once activated, the device reads the person’s vitals and provides clear audio and visual instructions to guide the user. A shock will only be delivered if it is required, it cannot deliver a shock if the person has a normal heartbeat.”

“In a cardiac arrest, every minute matters. Having publicly accessible AEDs in these busy community spaces, stored in alarmed cabinets, means help is close at hand when it’s needed most.”

Each AED package includes a protective storage cabinet and signage, with Council assuming responsibility for installation and ongoing maintenance.

“Council is very grateful to the Goondiwindi Local Ambulance Committee for their ongoing commitment to our community,” Cr O’Shea said. “It’s initiatives like these that genuinely make a difference, and we truly value the time and effort the committee has dedicated to making this happen.”

Both AEDs are now ready for use, strengthening emergency response capabilities within the community.