Wagga’s mayor Dallas Tout and deputy mayor Georgie Davis have rolled up their sleeves as part of the NSW Local Government Blood Drive. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Wagga Wagga City Council has joined several other NSW Local Government Areas in rolling up to donate to Lifeblood.
Taking part in the annual Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Local Government Blood Drive, Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout and deputy mayor Georgie Davies have led the call to raise donations in the Wagga LGA.
“Wagga Wagga City Council has taken part in the Lifeblood Local Government Blood Drive for several years now and it is great to see the uptake in staff donating,” Cr Tout said.
“The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood do a great job at collecting this valuable resource, which helps save thousands of lives every year.”
Cr Tout said it was important to consistently reinforce the importance of donating blood to ensure donations don’t fall off.
“It’s a good thing for us to be down here and doing this and doing media on it, because the more it gets out in the media, the more donations that can be sourced from the community. And that’s exactly what we’re after, it’s lifting the profile in order to get more people involved.
“We are so lucky to have a facility like we do here in Wagga. In so many other areas, people would either have to travel or wait for vans to travel out to their area. It doesn’t take much of your time. It’s part of wrapping around the community and assisting the community.”
Deputy Mayor Georgie Davies admitted it had been some time since she had donated due to personal and family issues, but she reinforced that blood drives were a vital way of reminding people who may have put it off to book an appointment.
“There’s always a need for blood donors,” she said.
“There are 57 per cent of Australians who are eligible to donate, but just over three per cent do. So there’s always a need for more blood donors to come forward, whether it’s your first time or you’re a long-time donor, we always need people.
“That’s why I think these reminders are really important, particularly in winter.
“We’ve been told that a lot of people cancel their appointments because they’re sick, but then they forget to reschedule their appointments, so they don’t come back in and we’re losing those blood donations.
“So, particularly in winter, when everyone goes into hibernation or when you get sick, you’re not coming in. But the demand for blood doesn’t stop.
“Cancer doesn’t go into hibernation and accidents don’t stop happening just because it’s winter. So it’s really important for people to please keep coming in and rolling up their sleeves and donating.”
According to Lifeblood Wagga Wagga, there are 500+ appointments available to donate in Lifeblood’s Wagga Wagga Donor Centre in the next two weeks.
Click here to make an appointment, or call 13 14 95.
