Aussie generosity flows with flood and blood support
WITH the recent tragedies of the momentous floods Queensland and NSW are facing, affected areas are now transitioning into a long-term recovery stage.
The Australian Red Cross is providing urgent humanitarian support to the communities greatly affected as well as encouraging people to donate blood for needy survivors.
From initially setting up evacuation units to providing psychosocial support, NSW Divisional Advisory Board chairperson, John Maclennan, travelled from Orange to Lismore to applaud the members and volunteers working through the affected areas.
He has spoken to volunteers and members over the phone and says it’s “obvious that they have been under enormous personal stress”, sacrificing their time and energy to assist survivors.
He shared that the volunteers are not paid for their commitments in Lismore and some are even recovering from their own devastations.
Mr Maclennan does not have a specified role visiting the impacted towns, however, he vowed to thank members and volunteers personally from the highest level as he is also on the national committee.
He expressed that through the generosity of Australians and the Australian Red Cross telethon, more than $25m was raised and will be supplied through grants for survivors needing support due to the floods.
“The recovery is going to take a long time, but I think as a community we are prepared to do what we can.”
Working and volunteering with the organisation for 24 years, Mr Maclennan has enjoyed seeing his role adapt with each situation or circumstance.
“To know that the Australian Red Cross has a huge presence internationally signifies the importance of what we do,” he said, adding that whether the charity is working on small programs or overseas projects, they always seek to help.
Mr Maclennan told Dubbo Photo News the emblem of the organisation helps him stay motivated as does the feeling of helping someone else, and said “volunteers will never admit that it also makes them feel good too – at the end of the day you do it because you enjoy it”.
A long-time blood donor, Val Buchanan recently made her 175th blood donation and was recently awarded a badge for her remarkable efforts.
Mrs Buchanan shared that she
has been donating her blood since the age of 18 after learning her older sister required blood donation after giving birth.
Over the five decades of donations, Val has consistently donated every three months – apart from breaks between having her four children.
Mrs Buchanan and her husband used to donate together, however, he after he reached his 100th donation he developed a few health issues which prevented him from donating.
She said the nurses have made each experience memorable with supplying a milkshake after each donation, so after retiring, Mrs Buchanan commenced a volunteering position at the blood bank to organise refreshments for the patients.
With new technology donors receive an SMS to let them know where their blood has been used, which Mrs Buchanan says is “very satisfying as I know directly where I am helping”.
Mrs Buchanan encourages everyone eligible to donate blood or plasma as it is a simple, yet effective way to help the community.