General News
12 August, 2024
Donate to save a life
Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster has encouraged residents to register with DonateLife to be an organ donor during DonateLife week, as she marks five years since her first speech in Federal Parliament promoting organ donation.
“My first speech on 1 August 2019 coincided with DonateLife week, where I spoke about our first granddaughter Emmeline who received a liver transplant at the tender age of 14 months," she said.
"The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne was her home for months, and the care she received was exceptional.
"I am proud of her and we are so grateful to her donor and their family for their gift of life.”
Dr Webster’s renewed call for improved organ donation comes as recent data highlights a lower-than-average donor registration in many areas of the Mallee electorate.
Horsham (25 per cent), Hindmarsh (24 per cent) and Yarriambiack (25 per cent) all sit below the Victorian average of 27 per cent and well below the national average of 36 per cent.
The rate in West Wimmera is 28 per cent.
Dr Webster wants Victoria to adopt the same "life-saving reform" as South Australia where, as the only state where donor registration can be recorded when registering or renewing your driver’s licence, the organ donor registration rate is 72 per cent.
To register with DonateLife visit: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today