The AFL, all 18 AFL Clubs and the Australian Government, through the Organ and Tissue Authority, have joined forces to support DonateLife Week during Round 20 of the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
DonateLife Week (July 30 – August 6) aims to encourage Australians to make their organ donation decision count by joining the Australian Organ Donor Register online, to help end the wait for the 1,400 Australians in need of a life-saving transplant.
Today AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan was joined by Federal Aged Care Minister and Indigenous Health Minister The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP to talk about the partnership at Etihad Stadium.
“The AFL and all 18 AFL Clubs have partnered with the Australian Government, through the Organ and Tissue Authority, to support DonateLife Week during Round 20 of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season,” Mr McLachlan said.
“Fans will notice DonateLife Week signage at all venues this weekend including on the grass and fans will have the opportunity to have their decision count via DonateLife registrations booths at venues in Victoria, ACT, Queensland and South Australia.
“The goal umpires will wave magenta flags this weekend, the colour of DonateLife Week.
“Our game reaches all corners of Australia – with over 1.4 million people playing the game across 14,772 community footy teams on top of our 18 AFL Clubs and eight AFLW Clubs – we feel we can make a difference this weekend to the lives of the many Australians needing life-saving transplants,” he said.
The partnership between the AFL and all 18 AFL Clubs is an industry first and has seen each club appoint an ambassador.
Geelong player Tom Lonergan joined Mr McLachlan and Minister Wyatt today and encouraged AFL fans to have the important conversation with loved ones once they had made their decision.
“I really hope this weekend allows fans to consider registering their decision on the DonateLife website and to have the important conversation with their friends and family,” Mr Lonergan said.
“This cause is personal to me, we can all contribute to saving lives this weekend by supporting DonateLife Week,” he said.
Aged Care Minister and Indigenous Health Minister, The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, said “Sport has the power to unite communities on causes that matter. It’s been fantastic to see the support from the AFL, including across all 18 clubs, this week to encourage fans and members to register to save lives and discuss their decision with loved ones.”
“The new online registration via donatelife.gov.au is quick and it’s easy. Joining the Australian Organ Donor Register is a powerful act that can one day save lives,” he said.
The 18 AFL Clubs have appointed ambassadors to support DonateLife Week and are listed below:
Adelaide Crows – Mitch McGovern
Brisbane Lions – Mitch Robinson
Carlton – Liam Jones
Collingwood – Chris Mayne
Essendon – Matthew Leuenberger
Fremantle – Stephen Hill
GWS Giants – Aidan Corr
Geelong Cats – Tom Lonergan
Gold Coast Suns – Michael Barlow
Hawthorn – James Frawley
Melbourne – Dom Tyson
North Melbourne – Luke McDonald
Port Adelaide – Jackson Trengove
Richmond – Dylan Grimes
St Kilda – Leigh Montagna
Sydney Swans – Jarrad McVeigh
West Coast Eagles – Nic Naitanui
Western Bulldogs – Stewart Crameri
Fremantle AFL Women’s Player Amy Lavell attended the media opportunity today and spoke how she became passionate about the cause following the death of her best friend.
“My best friend spent years on the transplant waiting list for a double lung transplant, but we all have the opportunity to help cut the wait time for others by registering our decision to donate,” Ms Lavell said.
Last year, a record 1,713 Australians received a transplant thanks to the generosity of 503 deceased and 267 living organ donors and their families.
The AFL’s partnership to promote organ donation aims to help close the gap between the two-thirds of Australians willing to become donors and the one-third who are currently registered.
Along with the online registration form at www.donatelife.gov.au , Australians can still join the Australian Organ Donor Register online via the myGov, Medicare Express Plus and Department of Human Services websites, and by submitting printed forms.
