Ambassadors champion a life-changing cause
DELLARAM JAMALI | The Courrier, Australia

FOUR prominent Australians were last week appointed to promote the gift of life as the country's DonateLife Ambassadors.

Ballarat MP Catherine King, who is the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, announced Amanda Keller, Denise Drysdale, Derryn Hinch and Tania Major as promoters of organ and tissue donation in Australia.

The four will join Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC who was announced as the inaugural DonateLife ambassador at the national launch of DonateLife Week.

"It's something we thought would be helpful in promoting the cause of organ donation," Ms King said.

"These people have been directly affected by the issue and it is something they have spoken about and expressed interest in before."

Ms King said the "high profile" people could expand on the community's knowledge and understanding of organ donation and encourage family discussion of donation wishes through their charitable work.

"We currently have around 1700 people waiting for organ donation and the federal government has committed some $151 million in raising the rate of organ donation in Australia." she said.

"The good news is that since the money has been committed, the rate of organ donation has been going up but there is still a long way to go.

"I sincerely thank our DonateLife Ambassadors for championing the cause and encouraging Australians to start talking about the life-saving and life-changing gift of organ and tissue donation."

DonateLife Week runs until February 27. For more information, visit donatelife.gov.au