Two Blue Mountains clubs will be breathing easier tonight thanks to a Minns Labor government initiative to back safer community sport.
The state government is delivering new lifesaving equipment to Katoomba Pickleball Club and Leura Golf Club. They are among the 190 sporting organisations across NSW to receive new defibrillators.
The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program provides up to $3,000 to eligible sport and active recreation organisations for the purchase of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at sports facilities.
Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle said:
“This vitally important grant program is helping to save lives as when both CPR is performed and an AED is used within the first three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest survival rates increase by up to 60–70 per cent.
“This equipment will make a significant difference to safety at our local sports facilities.”
Since the program started, more than 2,500 defibrillators have been awarded for use at sport and recreation facilities across NSW.
In the Blue Mountains the successful applicants are:
- Katoomba Pickleball Club Inc(Defibrillator for Katoomba Pickleball Club)
- Leura Golf Club(Installation of an automated external defibrillator)
An AED is a portable electronic device that detects life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms and delivers an electrical shock to try to restore a normal heart rhythm. *
The program is part of a major investment by the state government to improve safety at NSW sport and recreation facilities which includes a $150,000 grant to the Heartbeat of Football Foundation to conduct research to identify which sports facilities have AEDs installed. The findings of the research, which started in September 2025, will provide vital insight and guide future government investment in the equipment.
Leura Golf Club general manager, Mike Whiting, said the investment will make it possible to get an AED on the golf course – meaning there would one be one in the clubhouse and one on the course.
“It will probably be put between the 13th and 16th hole, which is the furthest distance from the clubhouse. We want to get it out there and this will make it possible.”
Katoomba Pickleball Club secretary, Kirrily Marlow said: “We're very appreciative of the NSW Government's support in funding a mobile defibrillator that we can take to various venues including Interclub tournaments - member safety is a high priority.”
Ms Marlow said the club started as a community group around 2022 and in February 2025 became incorporated and part of Pickleball Australia and Pickleball NSW.
“Our membership is currently 90 and growing. We play at Katoomba Sports & Aquatic Centre and Katoomba High School's new multipurpose facility.”
Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:
“More than 190 clubs across NSW are now better equipped with defibrillators, building on over 2,400 delivered with investment by the Minns Government backing safer community sport.
“When every second counts, this equipment saves lives, ensuring players, volunteers and spectators can step onto the field with confidence and get home safely.”
For further information on the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, including the list of recipients, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-defibrillator-grant-program
MEDIA:
Brenda Cunningham-Lewis | Trish Doyle MP (02) 4751 3298, [email protected]
*AEDs detect if the heart has a shockable rhythm. They only deliver a shock if required – an AED will not shock someone when a normal heartbeat is detected, or there is no heartbeat at all. AEDs also give simple step-by-step instructions. This means anyone can use an AED, even if you’ve never seen or used one before.
