After fundraising for the machine back in 2019, the LASPA group put the call out to see if any organisations in Bendigo were in need of the life-saving equipment.

"Traditionally, the group has always been more of a social club, but I just thought that we could do more and better with our position on campus and for the community," LASPA past president Matilda Henley-Johnstone said.

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"So I made it my mission that we would as a club raise funds for and donate a defibrillator to a local community group.

Ms Henley-Johnstone said there was some criteria around who could apply.

"We said the group needed to be a certain distance from town as that would give you less access to a that sort of health care and a certain demographic in order to apply for the defib machine," she said.

"I approached the Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre and they were able to advertise the whole initiative for me and we had a number of applicants come from that."

Once the Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club was chosen as the recipient, the club members began raising money through the Cadbury chocolate boxes and were able to raise more than $2000.

The LASPA representatives then presented a session on CPR and defibrillation to club members, to give them the skills and knowledge to use their new defibrillator if needed in the future.

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BAREC president Neil Patton said the whole club was thankful for the donation and the time given to teaching the members.

"BAREC is extremely grateful to LASPA and for their generous support," he said.

"The arrival of the defibrillator fulfils certain aspects of our strategic plan and it will be of service to BAREC members and visitors to the Bendigo East Hall."

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Ms Henley-Johnstone said for her and the other members of LASPA, to be able to provide this education and equipment was of the utmost importance.

"Although the availability of AED's around town is increasing, we do know that as soon as someone can have that life-saving intervention if they do have a cardiac arrest, the better off they will be," she said.

"We want as many clubs and organisations to have access to these defib machines as possible."

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