Advice about organ and tissue donation
DonateLife™ staff are available to offer advice and answer any questions you may have about organ and tissue donation. You can contact our friendly staff by email: organ.donation@health.sa.gov.au or by telephone: (08) 8207 7117.
Donor family support for organ and tissue donor families
Donor family support is offered to organ and tissue donor families at the time of donation. It is a free service offered by a qualified social worker with extensive background in organ and tissue donation. Counselling is also offered over the phone for rural, remote and interstate families. Additional interstate services can also be arranged by our interstate counterparts. donatelife in South Australia also conducts bereavement workshops providing assistance and support for families through the bereavement process.
Community education
Community education is able to be provided on request. This service is provided free of charge. If you have any questions or would like a member of our team to come and speak to your community or at your event, please see Request a Speaker to negotiate a suitable time and lodge any questions.
Information for school and university students
Our DonateLife™ team are happy to provide information and fact sheets to school and university students to assist with projects and assignments. We are also available by appointment to attend schools for presentations or meet with students at our offices to answer any questions. You can contact us on email: organ.donation@health.sa.gov.au or by telephone: (08) 8207 7117.
Reflection rose vouchers for donor families
The Reflection Rose is specially bred and formally dedicated to organ donors and their families. It is a standard bush rose, with an abundance of dark red flowers and a subtle perfume. It is suitable for pots or bedding. The rose is available as bare rooted stock between June and August each year. However, you can order your rose at any time during the year by phoning the nursery or writing to them. All donor families receive a voucher so that they may collect a Reflection Rose to plant in their gardens in memory of their loved one.
To call about or collect your rose contact:
Glenys and Hurbert Thomas
Thomas for roses
Kayannie Road
Woodside SA 5244
Telephone (08) 83897795
The nursery is open 7 days a week from 8.30am to 5.00pm. It is a good idea to call the nursery to check that stock is available prior to making the trip to Woodside.
Request a speaker
DonateLife™ in South Australia have a number of highly qualified staff members who are able to come and speak in your community, school or workplace. To request a speaker please:
Email: organ.donation@health.sa.gov.au
Or phone on (08) 8207 7117
Thanksgiving service
Each year a service is held to celebrate the lives of donors from the previous twelve months that have generously given the gift of life to others. More details will be available soon.
Rose planting ceremony commemorating organ and tissue donation
2010 marks the 10 year anniversary of this annual event. Each year a commemorative rose planting ceremony is held in the Gift of Life Garden when a donor family representative is chosen to speak and plant a rose on behalf of all donors and their families. The ceremony is about remembrance, reflection and acknowledgement and is proudly supported by the City of Charles Sturt, Transplant Australia and DonateLife™ in South Australia.
The Gift of Life Garden was officially dedicated by His Excellency Sir Eric Neal and launched by the Hon Dean Brown on 25 February 2000. The Gift of life Garden was established as an expression of gratitude and to pay tribute to the many people who donated their organs and tissues, honouring their commitment to helping others in our community. The ceremony is well attended by both donor families and transplant recipients.
Rose Planting Ceremonies to date:
The Gift of Life Garden provides for donor families and transplant recipients a place to visit and to reflect on their lives and memories all year round. Roses planted to date include:
Reflection rose planted in 2000: Planted by His Excellency, Sir Eric Neal to represent all donors between 1964 -1999.
Joy of Health rose planted in 2001: Planted by The Hon Dean Brown MP, Minister for Human Services to represent donors in the year 2000. Joy of Health is the name of a rose released in Australia for the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. Bred by Harkness in England in 1996, the rose is a flora bunda with 27 petals and dark, matte green foliage. It is salmon pink with peach tones in colour.
Joy of Life rose planted in 2002: Planted by Mayor Harold Anderson, OAM to represent donors in the year 2001. The Joy of Life rose is a large flower, hybrid tea rose. It has an unusual colour combination of white petals with a red edge. It is a good repeat flower. Its parentage is unknown.
Remember Me rose planted 2003: Planted by The Hon Lea Stevens MP, Minister for Human Services. The Remember Me rose is a very unique hybrid tea rose bred by Cocker in Scotland in 1984. It has extremely strong healthy dense foliage of medium tall habit and the blooms are of a completely new colour break. It comes in fawn, cream, yellow and salmon rose blends.
Peace rose planted in 2004: Planted by The Hon Lea Stevens MP, Minister for Human Services and assisted by Lola Wren to represent donors in the year 2003.
The Peace rose grows vigorously. It is a Hybrid Tea and Florbundas with profuse large, high centred, golden yellow edged rose-pink blooms.
Sacred Heart rose planted in 2005: Planted by The Hon Lea Stevens MP, Minister for Human Services and assisted by Jean Steel, Tissue Donor Family to represent tissue and organ donors in the year 2004. The Sacred Heart rose is a Hybrid Tea with Classic blooms of exquisite shades of soft white, lemon blossom and palest gold. It is an excellent hybrid for garden show or cutting. It is a robust performer with a fragrance of sweet and spicy citrus.
Thank you to all the people involved in making 2005's Annual Commemorative Ceremony a special day for all to attend. A special thank you to Jean Steel, Donor Family representative Bernie Morellini, Master of Ceremony and the Hon. Lea Stevens Minister for Health.
