Victorians have been urged to roll up their sleeves to save lives and support CFA’s bid to win the 2021 Emergency Services Blood Challenge when the Lifeblood donation site pops up in their respective areas this winter.
The Challenge, held annually by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood from 1 June to 31 August, encourages friendly competition between emergency service workers to join their team and donate to win the challenge and, more importantly, save lives.
Lifeblood has a number of blood donor centres across Victoria and also operates mobile donor pop-up sites.
With 1258 blood and plasma donations during the 2020 challenge, CFA members came second to Victoria Police by only 59 donations and are keen to take out top honours this year.
One in every three Australians will need blood or blood products in their lifetime, however only one in 30 Australians donate blood each year.
Whether you’re a regular, lapsed or first-time donor, there’s never been a better time to donate as friends and family of CFA members – that’s anyone in our communities! – can nominate to donate on behalf of Team CFA.
Diamond Creek CFA member Neville Goddard this week donated blood for the 333rd time.
“They say each blood donation helps three people, so I’ll be up to 1000 people helped by my next donation,” he said.
The 35-year CFA veteran was already a blood donor when almost 30 years ago, his son needed blood during open heart surgery at 4.5 months old.
“He turns 30 this year, gets married in October and can deadlift a couple of hundred kilos, so it’s a real success story,” Neville said.
He encouraged anyone in the local area to give blood while a Lifeblood Pop Up Site is set up in Eltham from 19-23 July, or at any permanent Lifeblood donor centres.
You can register to donate at lifeblood.com.au.
See next page for a list of permanent Lifeblood donor centres and scheduled pop-up locations.
Regional and suburban Lifeblood pop-up collection sites and dates during the Emergency Services Blood Challenge (1 June – 31 August 2021):
Pop-Up site | Address | Collection dates |
Horsham | Dixon Drive Horsham, (near Anglers Club) | 28 June – 16 July |
Bairnsdale | Bunnings Warehouse 485-487 Main Street | 29 June – 15 July |
Eltham | Eltham Community Centre, 801 Main Road | 19 – 23 July |
Swan Hill | Curlewis Street Carpark | 19 – 30 July |
Warragul | Warragul Harness Racing Club 19 Howitt Street | 20 July – 6 Aug |
Craigieburn | Leisure Centre Lounge, Craigieburn Rd West | 26 – 28 July |
Sunbury | Hume Global Learning Centre, 48 Macedon St | 2 – 6 August |
Echuca | High Street Carpark | 2 – 27 August |
Lilydale | Baptist Church Complex, Cnr Hull & Swansea Rd | 9-13 August |
Leongatha | Leongatha Regional Hospital, 66 Koonwarra Road | 10 – 20 August |
Upwey | Community Hall, 1443 Burwood Hwy, Upwey | 16 – 20 August |
Melton | Community Centre, Cnr High & Smith Streets | 23 – 27 August |
Rosebud | Bunnings Warehouse, 282 Boneo Road | 24 August – 3 September* |
Narre Warren North | Narre Warren North Hall, 1-11 A'Beckett Rd | 30 August – 3 September* |
*must donate by 31 August to count as part of Emergency Services Blood Challenge.
Permanent Lifeblood centres in Melbourne and regional Victoria
Donor Centre | Address | Open |
Geelong | 237 Ryrie Street | 7 days |
Warrnambool | 2 Fairy Street | Mon – Sat |
Traralgon | 20 Seymour Street | Mon – Sat |
Mildura | 168a Eighth Street | Tue – Thu |
Ballarat | 601 - 603 La Trobe Street | Mon – Sat |
Bendigo | 6 - 8 High Street | Mon – Sat |
Shepparton | 210 - 216 Corio Street | Mon – Sat |
Wangaratta | 17a Norton Street | Wed – Fri |
Albury | 528 David Street | Mon – Sat |
Airport West | Unit 3/93-98 Matthews Ave, Airport West | 7 days |
Bundoora | 1st Floor, Polaris Shopping Centre, 21 Copernicus Cres, Bundoora | 7 days |
Caulfield | 322 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield | 7 days |
Frankston | 20 Davey Street, Frankston | 7 days |
Melbourne | Level 1, 367 Collins Street, Melbourne | 7 days |
Mt Waverley | Pinewood Shopping Centre, 43-45 Centre Way, Mt Waverley | 7 days |
Ringwood – D13 | Lot 4/38 Charter Street, Ringwood | 7 days |
Werribee – D14 | 7 Bridge Street, Werribee | 6 days |