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How sunrise and sand will save lives

There was definitely movement at the station when the word was passed around that some of the mob were headed to the beach! These two (around the corner from me in Queensland, where I’m staying for winter) were keen to make the trek to Bondi Beach with me. But they clearly had their work cut out for them eating that paddock flat!

So off I went, following The Herd of Hope — and what an experience!

 

What an honour to have been involved as an Ambassador for The Herd of Hope.

Those who follow me on social media probably got tired of hearing me talk about organ donation in the lead-up, but talking about the issue is what we need to do more of.

More than talk, we need action — action from the government for better regional health services, AND action from YOU, too.

You might THINK you’re a registered donor, but are you really?

NSW no longer includes the organ donation opt-in option on driving licences. Instead, you need to REGISTER YOUR INTENTION HERE. (Maybe readers will leave a comment below about the other states and the organ donation process.)

What I did learn through my involvement is that Australia has the highest success rate in the world when it comes to transplant surgery, but we have the lowest donation rate. That means people are forced to wait, and wait, and wait.

The people I met — both organ recipients and the families of organ donors — were so inspiring and their stories both heartbreaking and triumphant. I will remember March 17, 2018, for the rest of my life. (And until that last breath I plan to speak out and keep doing my bit for rural communities.)

Those who have read my stories, or who follow my travels in Myrtle the Turtle, know how much I love small towns and a happy ending. And these ladies will have a happy ending. This mob, who were a little shy at first (probably wishing they’d brought their new-season swimmers with them) will forever be The Herd of Hope and, as such, will live a special life on Undoolya Station (Alice Springs). You can sponsor a cow, too. They are all tagged and ready to have your name/company assigned to them.

There is a lot more to The Herd of Hope than a day on the sand in the sun.

Please take the time to check out The Herd of Hope and maybe see how you, too, can help. (It can be as simple as spreading the word.)

If you can donate, be assured every person in The Herd is a volunteer and every dollar donated goes towards their efforts to achieve the medical services needed in rural Australia. It is a registered charity that takes no wages, no administration or service fees. The money goes where it needs to go.

What now for The Herd?

The event is over, the conversation ongoing, and The Herd of Hope organisation will continue its fund-raising and awareness activities, with donations helping to fund research (at University of South Australia) into counselling services for organ donor families and transplant care nurses in the bush. The Herd of Hope will also support the creation of a network of transplant care nurses for regional organ recipients, who are often hundreds, or even thousands, of kilometres from appropriate care.

While we all shared a minute of silence on the day, let’s not stay silent when it comes to organ donation.

For more, including the cows’ first step onto the sand (video), go to http://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/story/5297409/donor-families-find-pride-and-comfort-in-herd-of-hope/