Market patrons given opportunity

Visitors to the Warragul Farmers’ Market had the opportunity to register as organ donors on Saturday.

Nurse donation specialist Kylie Larkin was on hand to raise organ donation awareness, start conversations, assist people register on the spot and answer any questions.

Ms Larkin, who also attended the market in October last year, thanked the organisers for inviting her and hoped it would become an annual visit.

“I’m very excited to be invited back this year,” Ms Larkin said. “It’s really nice to get out to the community again to be honest. This is probably the first community event I’ve been able to go to since March.”

Ms Larkin, who is based at Latrobe Hospital and works across Gippsland, said she was extremely passionate about organ donation and welcomed the opportunity from the Warragul Farmers’ Market.

The market organisers encouraged visitors to wear a touch of pink and visit the DonateLife Victoria stand to help honour the memory of Kelly Koochew.

To the end of August this year, almost 35,000 Victorians had registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register. This is down by some 6000 on the same time frame in 2019.

DonateLife Victoria said this highlighted the importance of getting back into the community to encourage registration.

“It only takes a minute to register and one donor can save or change the life of 10 people,” Ms Larkin emphasised.

There are currently around 1700 Australians waitlisted for an organ transplant. A further 12,000 are on dialysis, many of whom would benefit from a kidney transplant.

While the majority of Australians believe it important to be an organ and tissue donor, only one in three are registered.

“I’ve seen the pride of those families in the worst moment of their life,” she said. “The reward is huge and that’s just from the donor’s side.”

If you wish to learn more, visit donatelife.gov.au.

Right - Aysin and Koray Guler from Traralgon purchased local fare from Maria Antonie (centre) on Saturday morning.

Enjoying the market were (from left) Evie, Pete, Max, Billie and Sallie Jones, with Mary Hiriat, Kylie Larkin, Phoebe Wainer, alongside Louise, Fraser and Cooper Leighton and Pia, Emmy, Jed, Maya, Troy and Tania McDonald.

Warragul residents Gillian Vanyai and Stephen Vanyai always take the opportunity to purchase some of Gippsland’s finest produce at the market.

Josh Lees, Nat Lees, with Chloe and Ethan Lees visited the market on Saturday for the first time.

Kylie Larkin (left) at the Donate Life stall at the Warragul Farmers’ Market with Zane Heath and Amy Heath of Neerim South.

Enjoying some food from the market are (from left) Finn, Asha and Russell Young.