‘Blood brothers’ urge others to donate

Ahead of the launch of the Defence Blood Drive this month, two soldiers from 41RNSWR achieved more than 480 combined plasma donations.

WO2 Jeffrey Phillips began donating plasma in 2008 after his mother invited him to join her at a donation appointment.

He said the biggest challenge for some people was overcoming concerns about needles, but his experience showed the process was safe and straightforward, with minimal issues.

Reaching his 369th donation reinforced his view that donating plasma was simply the right thing to do.

“I can do it. A lot of people can’t. So if you can, there’s no reason you shouldn’t,” WO2 Phillips said.

“I've done nearly 370 donations, and you could count on one hand the number of times I’ve ever had anything go wrong.”

While WO2 Phillips hit a major donation milestone, Pte Graeme Bray’s commitment reached 118 donations over the past two decades.

He said the importance of donating plasma or blood became clear after learning that friends and community members had relied on blood products during medical treatment.

“The end result of it is definitely life-saving and is of the utmost importance to the person receiving it,” Pte Bray said.

“You never know what value your particular blood type or your particular donation could give.”

XO 41RNSWR Maj Mark Murray said blood and plasma donations were one of the ways reservists demonstrated service beyond their military duties.

He said the battalion had participated in the Defence Blood Drive since it began, with dozens of members donating each year to help meet demand for blood and plasma products.

“It’s even more imperative now the Blood Drive is on, that people get in there and do their bit to help stem that shortage,” Maj Murray said.