Morpeth Public School’s P&C often spoke about the need for a defibrillator, just in case it was ever needed to help save somebody’s life.
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But they couldn’t afford one. With a shoestring budget, and many projects to help improve the student experience at the school in the works, the idea fell down the priority list.
This month the school received its very own defibrillator – a key life-saving device if anyone suffers a heart attack – thanks to Morpeth Pharmacist Michael White.
Mr White, who recently bought the pharmacy, donated a defibrillator to the school.
It was a generous gift that left principal Peter Edmonds feeling humbled.
He said the school often had large gatherings that attracted an all ages audience and having the defibrillator at the school put him at ease.
“I am amazed and humbled that the new pharmacist wanted to make the donation to the school – it is a gift to the community and it will be available to use should anyone need it,” he said.
“All of the staff here have been trained in CPR but what we didn’t have was a defibrillator. We hope we will never have to use it, but if we do, then it could help to save someone’s life.”
P&C president Carley Fidock said the donation fitted into the school’s key message of health and wellbeing.
“It’s a big focus in everything we do … Heart disease is the biggest killer in Australia so it’s important that we get the right message out to the kids and start them off right,” she said.
Active lifestyles is a big thing we promote, we have zumba and sports and also mindfulness – the P&C and the community believe this vision and share it with us,
- Principal Peter Edmonds
Mr White also gave a pharmacy voucher to each family at the school.
This isn’t the first time he has been generous – he donates sunblock to Wallalong Preschool and bandages to the Morpeth Men’s Shed.
“I wanted to be part of the community and get involved with the community,” Mr White said.
“A lot of businesses want to take from communities – I want to give back.”
Mr White said being prepared for an emergency was better than finding yourself in that position without the right equipment to assist.
I think it’s important that you’re proactive with the decisions you’re making, the way the school funding is set up meant it was difficult for the school to afford to buy one, so I wanted to help,
- Morpeth Pharmacist Michael White
“It’s so important, a lot of illnesses go undetected until something happens, and with an elderly facility at Closebourne so close it’s needed.
“I urge other pharmacists to get involved with their community and help where they can.”
Belinda-Jane Davis
Passionate about community news
Passionate about community news
