Shepparton’s Steve Wilson completed his 100th blood donation on Thursday, June 16 after 25 years of consistent, quarterly appointments, with this one coinciding with National Blood Donor Week.
Mr Wilson began donating all those years ago to be a good example to his three children, who now continue to donate themselves as adults.
“My initial inspiration was to try and show the kids it’s good to do a good thing for the community,” he said.
“I just don’t see it as a bad experience — every three months you get your notification, put it in the calendar and away you go.
“It’s good to donate because the blood gets used, which is great, but also on the other side I don’t mind getting my blood pressure checked every three months now I’m well into my 60s.”
There are 2709 blood donors in Shepparton and one in three local residents will require blood products at some point in their life.
National Blood Donor Week, which runs from June 13 to 19, is an opportunity to recognise donors and inspire others to roll up their sleeve.
“No-one likes a needle in their arm, but I didn’t feel anything today — it’s not an unpleasant experience, it’s just a positive,” Mr Wilson said.
To those who had not donated before, his message was to just “give it a go”.
“At least try it once,” he said.
“I would suggest once you’ve got through that initial hurdle it gets better every time, and in the end it’s just like having a flat white at the café.”
Mr Wilson is part of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, which has a “Lifeblood Team”.
Lifeblood spokesperson Shae Burns said 140,000 more donors were needed across Australia to help save the lives of 1.5 million patients nationwide each year.
“From cancer patients to road-trauma victims, people with blood disorders, surgical patients and new mums — blood is needed somewhere in Australia every 18 seconds,” Ms Burns said.
“It takes just an hour of your time to donate blood and every donation can help save up to three lives.”
To book a donation visit www.lifeblood.com.au, download the Donate Blood app or phone 131 495.