The 84-year-old will give his body to science when he dies  – to help train the next generation of doctors, medical scientists and other health professionals and to boost scientific research.

Science has always fascinated the former TIGS science teacher who spent 30 years as a volunteer at the Wollongong Science Centre and is still a ‘‘volunteer patient’’ for students at UOW’s Graduate School of Medicine.

When he dies his body will be donated to the University of Wollongong.

But it was not just his passion for science which prompted the decision; the father of three and grandfather of 15 did not want to burden his family with the planning – and payment – of a burial or cremation.

Plus he’s witnessed the professional and sensitive way staff involved in the UOW body donation program cared for his late friend and family.

‘‘A friend of mine who died from cancer donated his body to the university and while his family and friends were very saddened by his death – they felt reassured because his wishes were respected and they didn’t have to go through the stress of a funeral,’’ Mr Morris said.

‘‘I have been a palliative care volunteer for 23 years and during that time I have seen the suffering and pain relatives have had to go through while agonising over funeral arrangements.

‘‘Being part of the body donation program – where the costs are borne by the university – will not only take the financial burden away from my family, it will take that emotional toll away too.

‘‘And for me, rather than worrying about what will happen when I die, I know what will happen so it’s made me feel very much at peace.

‘‘It’s the best decision I’ve made in my life.’’

It’s a decision being made by a growing number of Australians – including Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s father, John, who died in September – with universities reporting growing registrations for their body donation programs.

The UOW body donation program has expanded rapidly since its establishment in 2006 – with 114 donations received so far and 850 registered donors on the list.

‘‘The interest in the program, and registrations, are growing due to the growing reputation of the university’s program,’’ program co-ordinator Dr Darryl McAndrew said.

‘‘We now see around 150 to 200 donors register each year, while 15 to 20 donations are received.

‘‘There’s always a need for more due to the increasing numbers of students who use the cadavers (corpses) for anatomical and surgical training and for postgraduate students and staff who use them for research and anatomical investigation.’’

For students, having contact with cadavers was essential, Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine Professor Alison Jones said. In fact, she said, it would be dangerous for trainee doctors to start working in hospitals without it.

‘‘You can only go so far with plastic models – the touch and feel of a real body is very different,’’ she said. ‘‘This training gives students the opportunity to get a different level of knowledge and experience.

‘‘Getting students to make a cut into a body – into a person who is living or dead – is a big taboo in society and is often difficult for students to start with.

‘‘Thanks to the body donation program students are able to get practice in a safe, supervised environment, before they start working in operating theatres and emergency departments and have to make those cuts and carry out surgical procedures in order to save lives.’’

A major emphasis of the program is centred on ensuring donors are treated by students and staff with dignity, respect and anonymity. 

No nonsense is tolerated in the state-of-the-art laboratory and security is tight – those who are granted access have to go through a thorough induction process, don protective clothing and then have every move monitored by camera surveillance.

Signs warn of jail terms and hefty fines for those stupid – or twisted – enough to consider taking any ‘‘trophies’’, while cadaver material is microchipped, tagged and photographed to ensure nothing goes astray.

Occupational health and safety is a serious business in the pristine lab, where the air  in the room is exchanged 15 times an hour with fresh air – and stale air is sucked out through vents in the floor.

That’s important considering the chemical mix – including formaldehyde – which is used to preserve and sterilise the donated bodies.

And considering there was a fair amount of cadaver material in the room when this reporter visited the facility – under strict supervision – there was only a vaguely strange smell in the lab.

Medical student Zach Pancer said students were aware of the special gift the donors had given the university, and took their responsibilities extremely seriously.

‘‘It’s not just about anatomical training, it’s also about learning about empathy – something that is vital for all health professionals,’’ he said.

‘‘Students recognise that it’s a very altruistic act for these donors to make, and we all respect that and feel privileged to be given the opportunity to further our training in this way.’’

Mr Pancer, 25, is undertaking a double degree in medicine and surgery, and, as part of his training, has to work alongside doctors and surgeons in the region’s hospitals.

‘‘Having had exposure to real cadavers has been an invaluable experience – you just can’t get that experience from textbooks and plastic models,’’ he said. ‘‘It has really helped with the confidence and expertise I need to assist in surgery in a real hospital setting.’’

Helping UOW students like Mr Pancer provided another incentive for Mr Morris to sign up for the program. He already enjoys taking part in the volunteer patient program which allows students to practise their interviewing and examination skills.

‘‘I love taking part in the volunteer patient program as these students are the most wonderful, inspiring young people – they are just terrific,’’ Mr Morris said.

‘‘I’m enormously impressed with the university, its students and staff and the program it runs, and so I was happy to join the body donation program in order to contribute further to the education and training process.’’

Special treatment is also given to those close to the donor, with an annual Ceremony of Appreciation held each year.

Professor Jones said the ceremony – to be held on November 20 this year – provided a chance for donors’ families and future donors to reflect on the importance of their gift.

‘‘A lot of families hold a memorial service for donors, as there is no funeral, and we also hold this annual ceremony for staff to come together with families to celebrate the gift they have given and acknowledge the deceased,’’ she said.

The university has also placed a memorial stone at the Lakeside Memorial Park and Crematorium at Kanahooka in recognition of donors.

Meanwhile, it is the donor themselves who must sign up for the program – family members cannot donate relatives after their death. And Dr McAndrew said he encouraged donors to discuss their intentions with loved ones as the decision could cause upset or confusion.

‘‘It’s very natural for relatives to have these feelings, which is why communication is so important,’’ he said. ‘‘If it’s something someone has expressed they have wanted to do their whole lives, then relatives can feel relief that the wishes of the deceased have been fulfilled. But it can sometimes be a bit of a shock.

‘‘We are also here to answer any questions and reassure them.’’

Mr Morris said while his family and friends were initially surprised by his announcement, they were very supportive of his decision: ‘‘They know it’s what I want’’.

Meanwhile donations cannot always be accepted, so donors are encouraged to discuss alternative plans with their relatives. 

Reasons donations may not be accepted include if a donor has been significantly affected by certain medical conditions or procedures, such as amputations or disease; has undergone whole organ donation or an autopsy; or is obese or emaciated.

The UOW can accept donations from across the state, although most of those who pledge to donate are from the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. The average age of prospective donors is 68, and currently there’s more women than men on the list.

‘‘There are many reasons why people choose to donate their body to science – they may have received excellent medical care and want to contribute to that, they may have worked or have relatives who work in the areas of health or science, or they may do it purely out of the goodness of their hearts,’’ Dr McAndrew said.

Once a donor dies, and is accepted, the university pays for the body to be transferred to the university within 48 hours.

The body is then embalmed and kept at the university’s mortuary – which holds 45 bodies – until required for research or teaching in the lab.

Dr McAndrew said bodies are dissected into what’s called pro-sections, and the dissection depends on the body itself or the requirements of the teaching program.

‘‘Lab technician staff dissect the body according to what they can physically see, or are guided by the information donors have provided on medical forms,’’ he said. ‘‘For instance if a donor had a particular medical condition or had undergone a certain procedure – such as heart bypass surgery or hip replacement – then we may target that part of the body so we can illustrate that condition or procedure to students.

‘‘The dissection may also be guided by the demands of the teaching program – teachers may want students to have a close look at blood vessels, they may be doing a unit of study on hearts. Students are exposed to cadavers slowly by sections, while later-stage students will eventually conduct a full body dissection.’’

Under NSW law, the bodies can be kept for up to four years, at which stage they are disposed of according to  the family’s wishes. Costs of cremation will be carried by the university, with ashes returned to the next of kin or scattered at the memorial stone. Body parts can be kept for longer – with the family’s permission – for preservation for the university’s pathology museum which is another teaching tool for students.

‘‘We keep organs of general interest in this museum,’’ Professor Jones said. ‘‘It’s all about pattern recognition – it enables students to recognise what organs look like when they are normal, and when they are abnormal. This gives them that instant recognition when something is wrong.’’