The generosity of one Tauranga community group towards another has culminated in the public being offered free classes to learn to operate a defibrillator next month.

The free classes stem from Mount Redoubt Lodge going into recess and needing to donate its funds as part of the rules of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffalos.

Mount Redoubt Lodge spokesman Peter Miller said the Brothers opted to donate funds to the Legion of Frontiersmen J Squadron, which hired its Elizabeth St West hall to the Buffalos for many years.

“The lodge rules say any excess money that a lodge has when they go into recess must be donated to charity,” Miller said. “The first that came to mind was the Legion of Frontiersmen (LOF) because of our long relationship with them. It was very special.”

LOF J Squadron leader Val Baker said her group thought it was best the funds purchased an automated external defibrillator (AED) – a device that can be used to treat a person whose heart has suddenly stopped working – for the hall.

“Now it’s installed, the LOF J Squadron is sponsoring classes to learn to operate an AED machine.

“The courses will be run by Oceania Training at the hall,” said Baker. “We’re doing this to support the community and fellow community groups.”

The first course for 20 participants is on March 15, starting 11am at the legion’s hall.

“This will run for 90 minutes,” Baker said. “We’ve offered the free classes to the community groups that hire our hall first. However, we still have empty spaces for this first course – so we want people interested in learning to operate an AED machine to come forward. They just need to contact us.”

Baker said if there was enough interest, the LOF J Squadron would look to sponsor more free AED training classes, possibly in July and October.

“Most funds raised from our hall hire fees go back into maintaining the hall, but we’ve always wanted to give back to the wider community and this is a way of doing so. And this recognises our long association with the Buffalo Lodge.”

Miller is thrilled the Buffalos’ donation is being paid forward to the community. “The flow-on of generosity makes us very happy.”

To sign up for the free AED class on March 15, contact Val Baker via email: val.baker@xtra.co.nz