Community & Business
10 August, 2026
Kingsthorpe defibrillator relocated
Kingsthorpe QCWA’s defibrillator has been relocated from the hotel to the QCWA Hall verandah on Gowrie Street.
The Kingsthorpe QCWA Hall is located at 2 Gowrie Street, between the War Memorial Hall and the Pink Shop/Post Office.
The move is designed to make the defibrillator more accessible to the majority of Kingsthorpe’s population who live on the northern side of the railway line and was done after consultation with Kingsthorpe Hotel’s owners.
A Kingsthorpe QCWA spokesperson said the defibrillator project was deeply personal.
“Approximately five years ago the husband of one of our members suffered a cardiac event," the spokesperson said.
“This event resulted in him being treated by paramedics using a defibrillator which allowed his heart to recommence in a more productive rhythm and possibly saved his life.
“As a result of this incident, he decided to purchase an AED which he donated to the Kingsthorpe QCWA for the local community to access and possibly save the life of a member of our community.”
Fortunately to date the AED has not been required in an emergency.
“The Committee want to thank the owners of the Kingsthorpe Hotel for their support of this project over many years, including allowing continued access throughout the rebuilding of the hotel,” the spokesperson said.
The AED is checked every three months by a representative of the Oakey Local Ambulance Committee (LAC) and replacement of out of date batteries and pads is managed through funds raised by the Kingsthorpe QCWA, which is supported by the local community.
This maintenance by the Oakey LAC ensures that this potentially life saving piece of equipment is ready to assist members of our community in the event that they need it.
The QCWA wants to stress that it is vital that this equipment is used in conjunction with continuing bystander CPR should a patient be suffering a cardiac event.
“If you the event of an emergency situation, send another bystander to fetch the defibrillator while the person on scene continues to perform CPR,” the spokesperson said.
“If you are not sure how to perform CPR, we recommend that everyone should undertake first aid training.
“In the event that a bystander does not know how to perform CPR, an Ambulance Emergency Call Taker can provide direction over the phone in the event of an emergency, until Paramedics are able to take over management of a patient.”
Oakey LAC President Geoff Kapernick said that approximately 85% of the time that a person performs CPR, it is on a family member or close friend.
“That is why it is especially important to have an awareness of how to perform CPR,” he said.
For more information about CPR, call Geoff Kapernick on 0427 026 464.
