Defence Security and Estate Group Blood Ambassador Gary Mantell has rolled up his sleeve as part of the annual Defence Blood Drive.
Running for the 16th consecutive year, the Defence Blood Drive aims to beat the efforts of 2023 - which improved the lives of up to 31,000 Australians - to exceed a total of more than 11,000 donations for 2024.
Mr Mantell has shown continued dedication and support to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and is on track for his 500th donation.
A former soldier and now Defence Australian Public Servant, Mr Mantell's journey towards his 500th donation milestone is heart-warming and empowering.
Starting in the 1980s, Mr Mantell and a group of friends began donating together at RAAF Base Townsville.
"I could have said that I started donating blood because I wanted to help people suffering from immune diseases, cancer and other diseases that affect the blood, but that's not why I first started donating blood," he said.
"I was quite young when I was first posted to Townsville. My circle of friends included a number of nurses who convinced me that donating blood was a great thing to do. I was keen to impress; thus my donation journey began."
Mr Mantell began by donating at the old Townsville hospital, which was located close to the beach. These first donations were all whole blood, and consequently it took several years to reach the 50 donation milestone.
"My mother donated blood for most of her life and she was quite proud of the fact that she had donated over 100 times," Mr Mantell said.
"In the past, blood donations could only be made once every three months, so it took over 25 years for my mother to reach 100 donations. Plasma donations can be made every 14 days, so my mother told me I was cheating when I reached the 200 donation milestone."
'I encourage everyone to take a couple of hours out of your schedules to donate today.'
Posting out of Townsville in the late 1980s, Mr Mantell wasn't in a position to donate regularly and didn't recommence until the 1990s.
"But since then I have religiously donated every 14 days," he said.
The donor centre at the Townsville University Hospital formerly accepted blood and plasma, but recently stopped accepting whole blood.
"What's extraordinary about the Townsville Lifeblood Centre is that it collects more plasma per capita than any other place in the world," Mr Mantell said.
"If all things go to plan, I will make my 500th donation on January 30, 2025. I will continue to donate blood until I am medically unable to do so.
"Even though I may have commenced donating blood to appease my friends, I am proud of the fact that in some small way I have helped people."
Mr Mantell is keen to emphasise that under Section J9 of the 2024 Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement, employees are provided reasonable time away from duty to donate blood, plasma or platelets.
"So I encourage everyone to take a couple of hours out of your schedules to donate today," he said.
The Defence Blood Challenge runs until December 8 and anyone wishing to register can do so through Australian Red Cross Lifeblood at www.lifeblood.com.au
Defence is currently on track to reach its 11,000 donation goal, with more than 50 per cent of targets reached.
