St George Hospital unveils one-of-a-kind donor memorial to kick-start DonateLife Week

The NSW Organ & Tissue Donation Service unveiled a very special memorial at St George Hospital to commemorate deceased organ and tissue donors recently - a beautiful large window decal, located within the hospital near the Intensive Care Unit.

St George Hospital Donation Specialist Nurse Lisa O’Reilly hopes that this tribute will create a contemplative space within the hospital to recognise the generosity of all organ and tissue donors – past, present and future.

“It’s our way to say thank you, beyond words for the precious gift of life,” Ms O’Reilly said.

The artwork was commissioned by the NSW Organ & Tissue Donation Service and was selected through an application process, whereby local artists were invited to submit an expression of interest.

The creative brief asked artists to convey a sense of nature, growth and new life through their depiction of the native landscape and flora from the local area.

A submission by Sydney-based Indigenous artist Susan Grant was chosen for the memorial. Her painting is titled Through Essence of Life, We’ll Find the Key, and reflects and celebrates new life.

Central to Susan’s artwork is her depiction of Mother Earth’s spirit, symbolic of the strength and compassion for others in giving the gift of life.

“I think Susan captures the precious nature of the gift of life so perfectly in her artwork,” Ms O’Reilly said.

The opening of the memorial coincides with DonateLife Week, a national awareness week to encourage Australians to talk about organ and tissue donation and to register as donors.

“This DonateLife Week, I want to thank all of the generous families that have considered organ and tissue donation, and I would encourage all Australians to talk to their loved ones about their wishes surrounding organ and tissue donation,” Ms O’Reilly said.

It only takes a minute to register at donatelife.gov.au.

Pictured: Leah Barthel (donor family member) and Patricia Scheetz (transplant recipient) standing in front of the donor memorial at St George Hospital.