The annual ACT Chief Minister’s Awards for organ and tissue donation awareness were held at a special ceremony at the ACT Legislative Assembly on 24 February held in cooperation with Gift of Life.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher acknowledged the major contributions of seven individuals:

• ABC radio personality Greg Bayliss received the Angus Fairbairn-Cody Award for Media Support.  This recognized his role in generating community interest in organ donation via Canberra’s local media and also his role as MC at the annual Gift of Life DonateLife Walk.
• Rick McQualter was honoured with the Annette Taylor Award for Community Service in recognition of his work within the Coroner’s Office of the Australian Federal Police in facilitating organ and tissue donation in cooperation with hospital staff.
• Dhale Brown, who works at The Canberra Hospital mortuary, received the Ben Wiseman Award for Healthcare for his voluntary work in cornea retrieval from tissue donors in cooperation with DonateLife ACT staff.
• Marguerite and Laurie Wiseman, a donor family, were given the Mathew Reynolds Award for Community Service for their active involvement on information stalls and public speaking as well as involvement in a DonateLife ACT advisory group.
• Pat Siciliano, a kidney recipient, received the Jenny Deck Award for Community Support for his tireless efforts on information displays and public speaking, for involvement in a DonateLife ACT advisory group and as a board member of Gift of Life.
• David Gough was awarded the inaugural Terry Connolly Award for Community Awareness Raising in recognition of his major role in promoting organ and tissue donation in country areas of Australia through long distance motorbike rides, his most recent ride covering 8,000kms.  His daughter became a donor.

l-r Marguerite & Laurie Wiseman, Greg Bayliss, Chief Minister  Katy Gallagher, David O'Leary, David Gough, Pat Siciliano and Rick McQualter

All of the awards were named after donors who have generously given others a new opportunity of life.

Gift of Life President David O’Leary thanked all the recipients of awards for their hard work and contribution to organ and tissue donation awareness, and also paid tribute to those who promote this important issue within their families, communities and networks.

For more information:

• Gift of Life press release
• Chief Minister's press release
• Photo gallery

For the sixth time, Gift of Life organised the annual DonateLife Walk in Canberra on 22 February 2012 as one of the key events held around Australia during national DonateLife Week. The event was sponsored by the Government’s Organ and Tissue Authority.

Alana Lowes, a finalist in Masterchef, lodges her intention to be an organ and tissue donor with a volunteer from the Australian Organ Donor Registry. 

The aim was to highlight the importance of people signing the Australian Organ Donor Register and of having a family discussion to know their loved ones’ wishes in order to increase donation consent rates in future.

There was a very large turnout this year with around 2,400 Canberrans taking part, including many more young people.  The event attracted strong media coverage.  It was a wonderful morning, a colourful occasion with many balloons, bright T-shirts and hats worn and photographic images of key personalities involved in transplant activities in the ACT and Sydney hospital teams reflecting the nature of the occasion.

And they're off!

Most participants took the regular route from Regatta Point around the lake across Kings and Commonwealth Avenue bridges and back. Others took the new alternative shorter walk around Commonwealth Park which was less demanding and better for those needing to get to work early.

Key participants included The Hon. Catherine King, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Ms Katy Gallagher ACT Chief Minister, Senator Gary Humphries representing the Federal Opposition Leader, Ms Gai Brodtmann Member for Canberra, Mr Zed Seselja ACT Opposition Leader, Mr Jeremy Hanson ACT Shadow Health Minister, Ms Jane Halton head of the Department of Health and Ageing, Ms Yael Cass CEO of the Organ and Tissue Authority, Dr Peggy Brown head of ACT Health as well as a number of sporting personalities including members of the TransACT Capitals, Olympic athletes and the official AIS starter, Masterchef finalist Alana Lowes at the BBQ, local business and community leaders, staff from government departments and agencies as well as large numbers of school and university students.

l-r Ms Yael Cass, The Hon. Catherine King, Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, Ms Gai Brodtmann, Ms Jane Halton & Mr David O'Leary

Gift of Life President David O’Leary thanked all those who turned out to show their support for organ and tissue donation: “Events like the DonateLife Walk provide an important opportunity for people to have a conversation with their loved ones and to know their wishes so they are prepared to give their consent to donation should the situation ever arise.  So we were pleased to see so many people take part in the Walk this year held during national DonateLife Week.”

More information is available at:

• GoLi media release 
• The Hon. Catherine King's media release
• Photo Gallery

The results of organ donation for 2011 are now available showing that the generosity of 337 families resulted in more than 1,000 transplants.  The Parliamentary Secretary, The Hon Catherine King, MP, has congratulated the DonateLife network for this pleasing result.

Gift of Life thanks those families for their selflessness at a time of incredible grief.  Their decisions have made a difference to the lives of Australians who would otherwise be facing an uncertain future.  

The ACT again led the way with just over 21 donors per million population (the common statistic used in the organ donor sector).  We thank our donor families and the clinical staff who have worked tirelessly to support those families in respecting the wishes of their loved ones.