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Getting politicians to agree on anything can be a near-impossible task but when it comes to helping out Wollongong Young Citizen of the Year Jessica Sparks, they couldn’t say no.
Last week Ms Sparks, 21, a double lung transplant recipient and founder of Sparking Life, which aims to boost low organ donor rates, coralled 13 Illawarra federal, state and local government pollies, Liberal, Labor, Greens and independent, to appear in a photo together in Wollongong to support organ donation, following DonateLife week.
The group consisted of NSW MPs Noreen Hay (Wollongong), Gareth Ward (Kiama) and Anna Watson (Shellharbour), federal members Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones (Cunningham and Throsby), Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery and councillors David Brown, Ann Martin, Michelle Blicavs and George Takacs, and Shellharbour councillors Deputy Mayor Paul Rankin, Kellie Marsh and Helen Stewart. Keira MP Ryan Park and Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba also support the campaign but had prior engagements.
All were already organ donors as shown on their driver’s licences but only two were properly registered as donors with Medicare and Ms Sparks quickly got the rest signed up on the Australian Organ Donor Register. Being on the register and having the consent of family is the only way to ensure donation.
The group also signed Sparking Life’s pledge cards, agreeing to talk about being a donor with family, friends and the community.
Ms Sparks said it was quite hard to co-ordinate the politicians but worth it.
‘‘It shows how supportive our community leaders are of organ donation and that they’re willing to put aside other commitments to sign up and get the message out,’’ she said.
Australia’s donation rate is less than half that of the leading countries and 44per cent of residents were unsure of the donation wishes of their loved ones. There are 1600 people on the transplant waiting list.
Ms Sparks said the gift of life had a truly amazing impact – one donor could save up to 10 lives. She underwent a double lung transplant in 2009 after cystic fibrosis-induced lung failure.
‘‘I hope this inspires others to have that conversation with family and friends.’’
Councillor Bradbery praised Ms Sparks for giving back and said organ donation was a great gift and a personal memorial to the person who had died.
Mrs Hay said Ms Sparks was an amazing young woman and it was no surprise she got everyone together.
‘‘If your life goes, at least if you can save somebody else, then you live on.’’
Mr Jones said he had a very good friend who got an extra 15 years of life because somebody ‘‘ticked a box on a form and donated a pair of lungs to him’’.
Mr Ward said the community needed to turn around the low rates of donation while Mr Rankin said it was awesome that both sides of politics were supportive.
Ms Bird said she had owned a donor card as a result of Ms Sparks’ campaigning.
‘‘I hope she can spread her message far and wide.’’
Information: email sparkinglifeaustralia@gmail.com, go to Facebook ''Sparking Life Australia, or call 0413 068 057.
To download the organ donor registration form, click here: