Author Archives: Raelene Johns

Dr Naomi Whyler is our current Cardiology Registrar.Originally from Wales she took the long route to Mildura via Scotland and New Zealand.
Her interests include exploring the river by kayak and paddle board, baking, drinking coffee and trying to learn the rules of Aussie football (we haven’t seen much baking).

Naomi is having a ‘wonderful time’ in Cardiology as part of her training in General Medicine, she is intending to specialise in General Medicine & Infectious Diseases.

Naomi is a bit of a prankster and enjoys confusing the staff at Mildura Cardiology by labeling various items in Welsh, then watching them try to pronounce it!

Naomi said ‘after a year and a half in Mildura, the thing I’ll remember most when husband and I move to Melbourne for the next stage of training will be the friendliness and generosity of everyone here – we have felt welcomed from the start and privileged to be a part of this community’.

The following article was printed in the Sunraysia Daily 17.4.18

Trainer saves collapsed footballers life:

A DEFIBRILLATOR and the quick thinking of a senior trainer were credited with saving the life of a country footballer on Saturday.

Kerang’s Patrick Featonby is in a stable condition after suffering a heart attack during a Central Murray league reserves clash against Balranald.

He collapsed during the first quarter and was able to be revived with the defibrillator before the ambulance arrived. He was then transported by road to Mildura and then flown to The Alfred hospital.

“We were very thankful both to ours and their senior trainer – without their quick action and the defibrillator, which was key to his survival – we would be having a different conversation this morning.” Kerang president Rob Fisher said yesterday. “They worked on him for about 15 minutes and were able to revive him with the defibrillator before the ambulance arrived.”

Defibrillators have been provided at most country football grounds, including throughout Sunraysia.

The footballer would see a cardiologist today but was in ‘good spirits”, Fisher said.

The reserves match was abandoned and, after discussions between the two coaches, the senior game was also abandoned on Saturday.

Heart starter a life saver.

By Caitlyn Morgan – compliments of Sunraysia Daily 14.3.18

This week Mallee Accommodation and Support Program (MASP) became the 38th recipient of a defibrillator from

Mildura Cardiology.

It ‘s been a decade since Mildura Cardiology first donated a defibrillator to a community group and in that time two lives

have been saved.

Mildura Cardiology cardiologist Dr Alan Soward said Mildura Cardiology had provided many organisations with

defibrillators, including all Sunraysia Football and Netball League and Millewa Football League clubs.

“There have been tragic deaths in the sporting community with young people dying unexpectedly, so we thought if we

can donate these to the sports clubs, it would make a big difference to the community” Dr Soward said.

“These devices can save lives. If a person has a cardiac arrest they can restore normal heart rhythm”.

“There is also the opportunity to find out what the heart problem is that led to the cardiac arrest, this information can

prevent it from happening again”.

Dr Soward said the devices were fairly simple to use and no training was required, but with each device donated the

staff at Mildura Cardiology had provided instruction. “It all started off by wanting to do something for the community

and defibrillators were only just starting to appear in public locations” Dr Soward said.

“After we donated them to the sporting clubs it was well received, we expanded the donations to other sporting clubs,

schools and not-for-profit organisations”.

“We know that two of the donated defibrillators have been used and were successful both times”.

It was while completing first aid staff training that the need for a defibrillator was raised at MASP.

“We are a large organisation, with multiple campuses, many clients and 111 staff” MASP chief executive Gary

Simpson said.

“The defibrillator will help us respond to any critical emergencies”.

“If you only use it once, then it was worth having one and it gives us peace of mind”.

“At this stage we will be placing the defibrillator in the day activity centre but will look to purchase one or two more in

the future” he said.

“Any organisation with more than 100 staff should consider investing in one”.

Practice manager at Mildura Cardiology Raelene Johns said it was important for those with defibrillators to regularly

check the use-by dates of the pads and batteries.