CITY chief Justine Linley wants Ballarat to set the tone in saving lives.
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The City of Ballarat chief executive officer made sure to bleed by example, making her first blood donation in years. Ms Linley rolled up her sleeves with three members of the City’s executive leadership team at Ballarat Blood Bank last week.
They did so as part of the Australian Red Cross’ Red25 councils blood challenge.
By calling on all City of Ballarat staff to donate, Ms Linley made sure to also get pumping to make a difference. She proudly wore a first-time donor sticker for her return to the donor chair.
“It’s been a number of years since I donated blood, but I drive past here pretty much everyday,” Ms Linley said. “It’s actually a fantastic facility with really friendly staff when you come in.”
Ms Linley said City of Ballarat was really embracing the challenge and pushing for first place as blood heroes.
City of Ballarat won its division for organisation with less than 1000 employees last year and was sitting third nationally leading into this week.
The challenge runs from July 1 to September 30 and, by the halfway mark, City of Ballarat had 52 donations counted before Ms Linley and her executive team joined the tally.
City of Ballarat workers have now made 227 donations this year, including 15 in August, to save 681 lives.
This effort is more than three times higher than City of Greater Bendigo and on par with City of Greater Geelong so far this year.
Blood product is in strong demand during winter months with many regular donors ruled out from rolling up their sleeves with colds.
Cancer treatment is the biggest user of blood product in Australia with 38 per cent of blood taken in Ballarat helping cancer patients.
Donors receive a text message to let them know the exact destination for their blood.
Australia needs more than 25,000 blood donations each week. One in three Australians need blood or blood products in their lifetime.
Ms Linley urged people in the community to join in helping a great cause and help save lives. Most people are able to give blood is they feel fit and healthy, are aged 16-70 years old and weigh more than 50 kilograms.
Ballarat Blood Bank is open six days a week, varying hours from 7.30am to 7.30pm. To donate, call 13 14 95 or donateblood.com.au
