Town Hall is illuminated magenta every night this week to help remind Australians it only takes three taps of an app to sign up as an organ and tissue donor and save lives.
DonateLife Week, which is this year being held from July 28 to August 4, is an annual nationwide campaign to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation in the community and encourage people to join the
Australian Organ Donor Register.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said in an ideal world all Australians would be registered as organ and tissue donors and be the reason someone was given a second chance at life.
“You can help spread the word about organ and tissue donation by talking about it with friends, family and loved ones, at your local sports club, workplace, cafe, and in your community,” Mayor Garwood said.
For Launceston’s Michele Polley, DonateLife Week has a special resonance.
In 2003, Michele’s 20-year-old son Aaron was involved in a devastating car crash on Tasmania’s East Coast.
The crash resulted in Aaron suffering a brain death and, as a registered organ donor, his organs were ultimately donated to four different recipients.
Ms Polley said it was incredibly important that Aaron had discussed his wishes to be an organ donor with his family prior to his tragic death.
“Some months before the crash, we’d had the conversation as a family about organ donation and each of us discussed how we felt and what we would like to do if anything happened. Aaron was clear that if
anything ever happened to him, he would want his organs donated,” Ms Polley said.
“We knew what Aaron’s wishes were, and when the doctors asked, ‘have you considered organ donation?’ it made our decision so much easier.”
In the two decades since Aaron’s death, Ms Polley’s family has been contacted through anonymous letter exchanges by all four organ recipients through DonateLife.
She has gone on to tell the story of Aaron’s life as part of Launceston’s Living Library.
“It has been the most amazing light at the end of that tunnel that was our grief,” Ms Polley said.
“It has given us comfort knowing that Aaron’s gift was four people, four families, four lives.”
DonateLife Tasmania Executive Officer Davin Hibberd said there were currently 1800 Australians on organ waiting lists and 14,000 more on dialysis for kidney failure who need Australia’s help.
“This DonateLife Week, don’t forget to tell your family you want to be a donor — someone’s life may depend on it,” Mr Hibberd said.
“Your family will always be asked to support your decision before organ donation goes ahead , and they’re much more likely to agree if they know you want to be a donor.
“One organ donor can save the lives of up to seven people and change the lives of many more through eye and tissue donation.
It only takes one minute to register as an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au or three taps on your Express Plus Medicare app.”
