The supply company's representative had been at the hospital on September 25 to provide training and configure the machine so it could ''talk'' to the other equipment.
''It's brand spanking,'' Mr McCarthy said.
The old defibrillator was now being used as a training tool.
''It [the old defibrillator] easily could have been used up to 50 times a year and that is potentially 50 lives saved,'' Ms Lawry said.
She said it was also used to revert cardiac arrythmia and also helped patients stabilise, ready for transport to Dunedin.
''Some people needed assistance to get [their hearts] back to a normal rhythm.
''We are really grateful.
''With the help of the community we can provide the care to keep people safe and here.
''It is great for us and we feel a strong sense of connection in the community.''
The Poolburn and Omakau schools intended to use their share of the money towards general educational requirements and the collie club will put their share towards the new clubrooms they are building.
Winners:
Competition section winners included: Glen Harrex, of St Bathans (swede dryland); Renee Harrex, of St Bathans, (rape dryland), Cameron Nicolson, of Poolburn (irrigated turnip), Michael Fridd, of Ida Valley, on behalf of Claire and the late John Mulholland (mixed dryland brassica), Mandy Evans, of Poolburn (rape irrigated), and Ralph Milne, of Lauder (mixed brassica irrigated).