By Tanya Steele
Community members still rolled up their sleeves despite a chaotic week to donate blood for Lifeblood at the pop-up clinic in Upwey over the 12 to 17 of February.
In 2023, more than 1,500 donations were made at the Upwey pop-up centre and community members are quite committed – donating regularly every three months when the clinic arrives at the Upwey community hall.
The storm and power outage on 13 February did not deter donors Armin or John from making their three monthly appointment, both appearing on Valentine’s Day to make their regular donations.
Donating somewhere on and off since the 1980’s, ex-scout leader John from Tecoma made his 100th donation and won’t be slowing down anytime yet.
He said he began donating when he worked at Nissan as an assembler and said that they would give employees time off to come and give blood.
“Everyone did it, they had it on site back then,” he said.
He has remained a stalwart donor for the Upwey pop up clinic, volunteering at the hall in the past.
“Before Covid hit I used to serve tea and coffee to people donating here – it’s only once every three months,” he said
Armin from Monbulk said that other than going to a good cause, donation is also a great way to keep an eye on his health.
“It’s great stuff, a good health check,” he said.
Arnin began donating in the year 2000 when a friend from his football club with leukaemia told him to ‘do something’ useful’ when he asked him how he could help him at the time – he has now reached around 90 donations.
He comes regularly to the pop up clinic, four times a year and said he often meets people that he knows outside in the community
“I had no idea they were blood donors,” he said.
The two men are among many who regularly donate at the Upwey pop up clinic and contribute their time to a good cause.
One blood donation can save up to three lives and 33,000 blood and plasma donations are needed across Australia every week to meet demand.
One in three people in Australia will need blood or blood products in their lifetime, but only one in 30 donates.
Cancer patients, as a group, are the biggest recipients of blood and blood products in Australia.
If you are between 18-75 years old and are feeling well, you may be able to donate.
There is an eligibility quiz online at www.lifeblood.com.au/blood/eligibility/start-quiz
The next pop-up donor centre visit to Upwey is 20 to 24 May.
Lifeblood encourages donors to book ahead.
Location: Upwey Community Hall, 1443 Burwood Hwy.
