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TvZ
Mr Hipp
Joined: 12 Sep 2011
Posts: 591
Location: Sydney
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 Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 5:48 pm Post subject: Tragic end for campaigner called 'John the Baptist' Read mo |
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David Gough was known as "John the Baptist" among fellow bikers because he rode to spread an important message.
It was a nickname the 61-year-old, a tireless campaigner for organ donation, shrugged off because he believed he was just doing what he could.
Every year Mr Gough rode around parts of Australia sharing the story of his 26-year-old daughter Melody, whose donated organs saved the lives of three people after she died in a car crash on Christmas Eve 2009.
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Tragedy struck the family a second time yesterday morning when Mr Gough fell from his motorbike and died on the corner of Greenwich Road and the Pacific Highway, St Leonards, in Sydney's north.
Mr Gough was not on an awareness ride at the time, having finished his latest ride in February.
He recently wrote about the ride and the importance of telling people they needed to register as organ donors and their loved ones needed to be informed of the decision.
"While travelling in Victoria with some hardened bikers, they christened me John the Baptist as they likened me to someone travelling in the wilderness gathering true believers to the cause," Mr Gough wrote on his blog.
"At one time there were 30 or 40 bikes thundering along behind me.
"I don't pretend to be so righteous; I just do what I can because many on the transplant list will die without the gift of life a transplant provides."
Melody died in a single vehicle car crash as she drove on the winding roads between Canberra and Cowra to come home for Christmas.
Her organs were given to three critically ill people.
At the time Mr Gough said this generous "love of life" said so much about his daughter, who was a promising arts worker at the National Art Gallery.
A spokeswoman for the federal government's Organ and Tissue Authority paid tribute to Mr Gough's work.
"He was incredible, well known and inspiring to many across the nation so it's a real loss," the spokeswoman said.
A statement from the authority said: "David generously shared his family's experience with the nation, encouraging other families to talk about their donation wishes."
The spokeswoman said it was not known whether his organs would be donated.
Cowra mayor Bill West said Mr Gough was a respected sculptor in Cowra and many members of the town of 13,000 would be in shock.
"He was well known and highly regarded and worked with and for the community."
Chatswood police duty officer Inspector Jeff Bell said there did not appear to be any other vehicle involved in yesterday's crash.
Police were investigating whether driver error or mechanical failure were factors in the crash.
For more information on organ donation, readers can visit the DonateLife website.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/tragic-end-for-campaigner-called-john-the-baptist-20120504-1y3qa.html
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Tertius (Just call me T or Joe ... whatever)
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Churchy
superstar
Joined: 17 Mar 2007
Posts: 3647
Location: The Druit
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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Nice post TV and nice to recognise the quiet achievers I reckon
Have ensured that my licence states my organs to be donated BTW, and my family know this as well
Some may be too stuffed already tho
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Boof
Hooligan
Joined: 11 Jan 2011
Posts: 2093
Location: sunny coast
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like a good bloke
Organ donation is a very important thing ,I hope something of mine can be used , we in Australia have one of the lowest donation rates in the world
If you give to someone them someone may give to save your child or grandchild
Very important
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otherwise
Grumpy
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
Posts: 1075
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| I've heard too many horror stories of hospital staff treating bodies without respect. When it's my turn I'm going up the chimney as an intact unit. And I've told my family so. Sorry to differ with most but that's not new for me. |
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Boof
Hooligan
Joined: 11 Jan 2011
Posts: 2093
Location: sunny coast
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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Mate that is up to you but i bet if your family member needed a kidney you would change your mind
The way i see it if can help someone then there may be a family member of theirs that donates and saves my grandchild later on
When i am dead i dont give two fucks what the hospital staff do to me
I just hope i have something good left to give
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cheekygreeky
Cranky Geeky (The Undertaker)
Joined: 10 Feb 2011
Posts: 2121
Location: Blacktown
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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i also have on my drivers lic, organ donation...........it was in september 22, 2000 when my 16 year old brothers Heart stopped beating and there was no hearts available ..................ITS SO IMPORTANT .......i have also advised my family and its also in my will and now its noted here
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CheekyGreeky ( Benny )
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becsta
500cc
Joined: 21 Feb 2011
Posts: 106
Location: Canberra
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| I am registered as an organ donor with Medicare. We don't have it on our licences in the ACT. I am also on the bone marrow donor list and donate plasma. |
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PJAY
Pro racer
Joined: 29 Apr 2012
Posts: 786
Location: Eagle Vale, NSW.
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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If there's anything left in me worth salvaging then I don't think I'll need it so someone else should benefit from it I reckon. My whole house are organ donors and the thought that if something tragic DID happen to one of my girls, it would be possible to help others live on would I think make life more bearable 
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