Organ donation: One farmer’s final selfless act

After a fatal farm accident, Alan Whelan learned his father had long ago made one final, selfless decision — to become an organ donor.

Sitting in a hospital waiting room after his father was involved in a farming accident, Colac livestock agent Alan Whelan was exposed to all the emotions you’d expect when a loved one is fighting for their life.

But some comfort for the grieving family came in the unexpected news that his father, Max, had signed up to be an organ donor.

For Alan, there is solace in the fact that his dad’s final act of selflessness – the donation of his eyes, kidneys and lungs – helped eight strangers.

“For us, as a family, it’s like Dad is still out there working,” Alan said.

“And it’s not a wonder Dad did do it, because that’s the person Dad was.

“It didn’t matter what it was that needed doing, Dad was there to do it.”

Data from Donate­Life shows about 1800 Australians are on the organ wait list, with more than 1400 people needing a kidney and about 70 desperate for a lifesaving heart.

And while about 80 per cent of Australians support organ and tissue donation, only seven million are registered donors.

Alan said he felt lucky his father made the choice to donate, and hoped more people would begin talking about organ donation, and not let it be a taboo topic when it came to end-of-life plans.

Alan Whelan on the family farm with a photo of his dad Max, who donated his organs after a farming accident. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“It doesn’t get talked about. You can sit around and talk about (funeral) songs and things like that, but being an organ donor, it doesn’t get talked about,” he said.

“If someone was unwell you usually have a little time to prepare and you may even get time to say your goodbyes, or bring up things you want to talk about, but when life takes a dramatic turn you lose those chances.”

DonateLife Week, taking place from July 23-30, aims to encourage more Australians to register as a donor online at donatelife.gov.au