Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

Speech delivered at the national launch of DonateLife Week, 18 February 2011:

Address by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

ON THE OCCASION OF

Launch of the DonateLife Week & Book of Life
National Library of Australia, Canberra

Ladies and gentlemen, I am really delighted to join you for the national launch of Australia's first DonateLife Week.

And to be here at our magnificent National Library - a cherished institution and resource to so many Australians, myself included - I couldn't think of a better place to launch the DonateLife Book of Life!

Friends, this week is an opportunity to talk about some things that so often get overlooked or put aside, perhaps because we don't feel we have the time or the information we need; or perhaps the issues feel a little difficult or uncomfortable.

It's a week that's been planned to get as many Australians as possible talking about organ and tissue donation: to give us the facts, and the experiences and insights of others, so we can think about the issues, discuss them with our families and loved ones, and make decisions that observe our personal wishes and our nation's needs.

Importantly, it's also a time to shine light on those donors who have brought life and healing to thousands of Australians; and to acknowledge the impressive leadership and professionalism of the DonateLife team who work with the Organ and Tissue Authority right across the country to manage organ and tissue donations, and to educate Australians about the benefits of giving and receiving.

The difference already to Australian lives is clear, with the 2010 donation rates having reached an historic high.

And with that inspiration and example, a collection of life-saving, life-changing, very human stories has come together from a group of people whose lives have been touched and transformed by a donor's decision. 

These honest, tender accounts pay tribute to brave and thoughtful Australians who, in the passing of their own life, have given life to another.

Many of those who have penned a page in the DonateLife Book of Life are with us today.

Helen and her family share husband and father Terry's story of giving sight through the donation of his corneas.

Helen writes "His tangible generosity gave our family some sense of meaning for his death".

Pat rejoices in the full and productive life made possible by a donor.

Glenys recounts the day she discussed organ and tissue donation with her teenage son, Angus.

"I was travelling in the car with my three sons when we started to talk about my life and what would happen if I died.

We talked about organ donation and Angus said he would be happy to be a donor if anything happened to him...the fact that other families have their loved ones with them now due to his donations...that has certainly helped me and my family these last few years".

Brad's story is one of thanks for the gift of a kidney and pancreas, and founding the Eurobodalla Renal Support Group to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation.

He writes: "I will never ever forget the gift that saved my life, from a family I shall never meet, but love and respect as my own".

David tells of a liver transplant that rescued him 20 years ago.

As President of the Gift of Life, David devotes his time to raising awareness about organ and tissue donation and the importance of family discussion. 

He says: "I hope my story and the fact that I am still able to contribute energetically two decades on will help inspire others to be donors".

And Marjorie writes of her daughter, Annette, who suffered a cerebral haemorrhage three weeks before her twelfth birthday.

At such a young age, Annette had already made the decision to donate, and in fact she became Canberra's first organ donor.

Friends, this is a book of life's lessons shared by people like us whose lives have taken extraordinary turns.

From desperate and tragic circumstances, they have found solace, restored meaning, treasured memories, and affirmed life and living.

In this inaugural week, the DonateLife Book of Life will set out on its year-long journey across Australia, telling and encouraging stories of organ and tissue donation.

In DonateLife Week 2012, this generous, expanding volume of human inspiration and hope will find its home back here in our Library's national collection - it is and will remain a book by Australians, for Australians.

Ladies and gentlemen, organ and tissue donation is a decision for all of us, and each of us.  

We share life, and a capacity to give life.

The stories and experiences we share are the threads that hold us together, and help us to support and understand ourselves and one another.

Today, as I launch the DonateLife Book of Life, I express Australia's profound gratitude for what it speaks of and what it urges in each of us.

Australian author, Reverend Dr Stephanie Dowrick, has written about it too in another book that is one of my timeless favourites.

In Forgiveness and Other Acts of Love, she wrote about generosity.

Generosity allows connections to be made between the most unexpected people. 

It lends itself to small gestures as well as large. 

It flies in the face of greed, arrogance and desire, and can undo them all. 

It does not depend on learning, privilege, status or riches.   

It is ignorant of nationality, class, colour and gender.

It is as vital in the boardroom as in the kindergarten.

It is impossible to manufacture, measure, sell or waste.

In every impulse that restores or celebrates our faith in humanity, there generosity is.

In all our finest moments, our most transcendent, tender or illuminating moments, it's also present.

Friends, I would like to introduce Robyn Gough now, whose daughter Melody's death saved the lives of three Australians.

 Robyn, welcome, and thank you for sharing your family's story.