Players, association members and supporters are still mourning the death of 27-year-old player Beth Leske who collapsed at half-time on Saturday, August 23, during the last round of the netball season.

Two off-duty paramedics administered CPR at the scene before she was rushed by ambulance to Wollongong Hospital, where she later died. 

IDNA president Dianne Elvy said while she hoped the new defibrillator would not be needed, it would offer some peace of mind to players and supporters.

The life-saving machine has been donated by All States Medical Supplies based in Wollongong.

‘‘If it hangs on the wall and never needs to be used then that’s great, but if someone does need it one day then it will be there,’’ Ms Elvy said.

‘‘It’s an expensive item – around $2500 – but one which sporting associations need to look at purchasing, and we are extremely grateful for this donation.

‘‘We are now looking at getting some of our members the necessary training so they are able to use it if the need arises.’’

All States Medical Supplies representative Kylie Nigro said the family-run Wollongong business would officially present the defibrillator to IDNA at Berkeley’s Val Curran Netball Centre on Saturday. 

‘‘We already have an association with the netball association as we supply them with sports medical supplies,’’ Ms Nigro said.

‘‘Staff here also have family members who play netball, and who played that day [of Ms Leske’s death] and it really hit home not just for the players but the spectators and the local community.’’

Ms Elvy said Wollongong Psychology had also donated their services to the association after Ms Leske’s death.

‘‘They have made counselling available free of charge to help anyone who required it,’’ she said.

It is unknown whether Ms Leske, who had a young son and was due to be married in October, had a pre-existing medical condition.

She is the daughter of former Illawarra Hawks team manager David Leske who died from cancer in 2001.