It is said nothing can stop a good idea whose time has come, and this is keeping the organisers of the Herd of Hope hopeful the NSW Minister of Roads, the National Party’s Melinda Pavey will eventually return their repeated calls and officially approve the event proposed for May 27.
The event has been years in the making by founder of Herd of Hope, Megan McLoughlin, herself a double-organ recipient with a zest for living and committed to enabling others to have the same opportunity afforded to her.
All we are seeking is a face-to-face meeting with Minister Pavey to explain the benefits for millions of Australians. Is that so bad?
- Megan McLoughlin, founder, Herd of Hope
Health Minister Ken Wyatt this week announced a campaign to improve the tissue and organ donation system as a result of a review conducted by Ernst and Young.
As well as a new organ matching system that connects state jurisdictions with the federal body, a new board to govern the Organ and Tissue Authority will report directly to Minister Wyatt.
“With today’s advanced surgical techniques, organ and tissue transplants can give many Australians with serious medical conditions the chance of live on, or to regain quality of life,” he said.
“Every one of us would hope for the chance if someone we love was affected – a child, our husband or wife, mother, father or, ourselves.”
Herd of Hope director Lizzie Mazur is exasperated at the floury language from Donate Life as, in her eyes, it all words and very little action.
“The Minister says this, yet has no idea of the repercussuions post-operatively of what recipients, and their families actually go through and, in many cases, endure,” she said.
“Does he know that a child organ recipient is left to their own devices once they turn 18 and become an adult in the system? Does the minister have any idea of the rate of depression caused by the medications and affecting families’ lives?
“The fact that a new board is being created to administer and oversee the organ matching system will probably cost at least $1 million, and this could be better used for on the ground post-operative care and on-going community support for dozens of people,” she said.
Herd of Hope organisers are frustrated, as say they have tried all the polite avenues of trying to connect with minister Pavey.