Navy personnel from HMAS Coonawarra are rolling up their sleeves to give blood as part of the annual Defence Blood Drive, providing lifesaving blood and plasma to help Australians in need.
The demand for blood products in Australia continually outstrips supply, with 33,000 donations required each week alone. The Defence Blood Drive gives the ADF and Defence Australian Public Service members an opportunity to assist the Red Cross, who are in constant need of blood donors.
Coonawarra has answered the call with more than 80 Navy officers and sailors donating blood products so far, with more to come.
Despite Navy's small numbers, its Darwin-based personnel currently lead all ADF for total donations to the Defence Blood Drive in the NT - an impressive effort given the tempo, workloads and busy schedules of its people.
Command Warrant Officer at Coonawarra Warrant Officer Dennis Bentley summed up how Navy felt about being able to contribute.
"Service is about something bigger than you and placing the interests of others ahead of your own. So for our Navy people in Darwin, donating blood or plasma to actually help save or sustain a fellow Australian's life as part of the Defence Blood Drive is something special we can do to support our community," Warrant Officer Bentley said.
"When you think about it, donating to help save or sustain life is critical for our community and our country."
The Defence Blood Drive is running for the 16th consecutive year, and is aiming to beat the efforts of 2023, which resulted in improving the lives of up to 31,000 Australians.
Commanding Officer Coonawarra Captain David Shirvington said the Defence Blood Drive was one of the key community engagement lines of effort for Coonawarra Navy personnel in the NT.
"We understand the criticality of blood donations, being a smaller locality with less resources than the larger states, and it is likely that at least one in three of our shipmates will require donated blood during their lifetime," he said.
"Plus, this is another opportunity for Navy to demonstrate that we punch above our weight against the other services."
All members of the community (between the ages of 18 and 75) are invited to support the Defence Blood Drive by making a booking at www.donateblood.com.au/lifeblood-teams
The Defence Blood Drive runs until December 8.
