Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

DonateLife Week was held from 31 July to 6 August this year.    On Saturday, 5 August I held a motorcycle ride from Coffs Harbour to Port Macquarie to raise awareness of the need for more people to register as organ donors. Currently there are 1,400 people waiting for an organ transplant—a procedure which could change their life, or in many cases save their life. Around 34 per cent of Australians are registered donors but regrettably only nine per cent of people aged 18 to 24 are registered. If we can increase the number of registered organ donors we can save more lives and improve the quality of life for more people.    It's so easy to go online to donatelife.gov.au and register, and it only takes a minute to do.

The ride was a huge success, with 40 bikes and trikes participating. Craig Lee, a double lung transplant recipient, rode his delightful MV Agusta over from Tamworth to participate. Riders also included Michael and Una Carpenter, whose son Jason passed away suddenly—Una said that the fact that Jason was able to become an organ donor and give the gift of life to others meant that something good had come out of a tragic situation.

I received fantastic support from the community, including BCU credit union, Telstra, the Westport Club and local Lions clubs. I would particularly like to thank Bonville Sawtell Lions, who provided breakfast before the ride and manned a stand in the local shopping centre. I would like to thank to thank Rob and Maxine Davies, Jen Campbell and Julie Muldoon. I also thank Coffs Harbour Pacific City Lions Club, including president Grahame McEwan and volunteers Alan Graham, Gary Lenard and Joe Grewal. We were met in Port Macquarie by newly elected mayor Peta Pinson, who welcomed the riders to Port Macquarie as her first official function. I would like to thank president Rob Bruce, who enthusiastically brought Tacking Point Lions Club on board. They cooked up a storm for lunch. Helping out with the barbecue were Jill Adams, Viv and Kevin Howell, Bob Forster, Jan Grimmond, Walter Gunther, Sandra Bell and Mal Merrick. In addition to doing a great lunch, the Tacking Point Lions manned a stand in Port Central to spread the important message of organ donation. I would particularly like to thank Mal Merrick and Fred Hynes, Scott Barnes and Simon Abell.

Lions were on the loose between Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, spreading the message of organ donation. I would like to thank Bellingen Lions president John Molloy and volunteers Wally Tyson and Eddie Saladi; Urunga Lions president Jo Brotherton and volunteers, Ann Marie Hall and Nora and Ken Brooks; Kempsey Lions president Geoff Bannermann and Richard Cashian; Nambucca Lions secretary Peter Mitchell and volunteers Harry Mills, Don Parveez and Jeff Shoemark; South West Rocks president David Dickinson, secretary Paul Dickinson and volunteers Roy Cousins, Dick McLoughlin, Kay Cousins, Iris McKelligott and Rhonda Smith. The ride really highlighted the power of the Lions movement to mobilise people right along the coast to achieve a community outcome.

BCU is a great local financial institution and they had in-branch displays to encourage people to sign up. I would particularly like to thank Culture and Recognition Officer Kerrie Byles and CEO Lyndon Kingston. We were greatly supported by Telstra, and thank you to Mike Marom and Chris Simon. At the Westport Club, I thank Jenny Edmunds, the Community and Sports Manager, Anthony Westman, the General Manager and Lauren Alexander for their support. There was also Reverend Zoe Everingham, the rector of the Anglican Parish of Bellingen, who herself is a kidney donor, Anne Judd from DonateLife and David 'Laarz' Laarhoven of Coffs Harley Tours. Also supporting the ride was Lee Fatouros of Coffs Coast Trikes, who took Cheryl and Colin Simpson for a great ride. Colin, a former motorcyclist, was delighted to be able to go on the trike and experience the joys of motorcycling once again.

Thanks also to the Coffs Coast branch of Ulysses for their great support, including Shirley Rose, Paul Cooling and Bernie Higoe. I would also like to thank John Sercombe of Coffs Property and Ian and Helen Bamford of Laser Plumbing. It was a great event and it was fantastic to see such fantastic community support. I am delighted to be able to say that the event will be back next year, bigger and better.

House adjourned at 20:00