Marjorie Taylor (centre), son Michael Taylor (left), and daughter-in-law Debbie Taylor (right) commemorated Annette for DonateLife Week at Merici College. Photo: Nicholas Ward.
The ACT has marked the beginning of DonateLife Week and 50 years of organ donations in the capital by renaming a street in honour of its first donor, Annette Taylor.
Eleven-year-old Annette became the ACT’s first donor in 1975 after a cerebral brain haemorrhage took her life.
To mark the start of the national awareness campaign, a street in the suburb of Macnamara has been named Annette Street. The ceremony was held at her old school, Merici College.
Annette’s brother Michael Taylor said it meant a lot to see her still remembered.
“Over time, grief became pride in what was achieved. At the time, we weren’t aware of the significance of being the first organ donor,” he said.
“It goes to prove that a young person can make a difference. We assume that a child doesn’t have the capacity to make a difference. But no matter how old you are, you can make a lasting difference.
“Future generations who search the origins of Annette Street will learn of her legacy.”
When Annette passed away, the ACT had no processes in place to accept donations. Annette’s mother, Marjorie Taylor, campaigned to let her daughter donate. A surgeon had to be flown into the ACT to take her kidneys back to Sydney where they helped save two people.
Unveiling the street name, Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith thanked the Taylor family for their efforts.
“While DonateLife Week is always a special time, this year is truly extraordinary as we come together to commemorate 50 years since the first organ donation in the ACT,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“Annette’s legacy lives on, not only in the lives she saved, but in the foundation she helped to build for future generations of donors and their families in the ACT.”
Today, 50 years on, tens of thousands of Australians have received life-changing surgery thanks to donors like Annette.
Annette Taylor, the first organ donor in the ACT. Photo: ACT Government.
In 2024, 13 organ donors in the ACT provided life-saving transplants for 42 recipients. Since the national donation program began in 2009, 19,469 people have received life-saving transplants.
Despite widespread support, only 28 per cent of eligible ACT residents are listed on the Australian Organ Donor Register, well below the national average.
This is something that DonateLife Week aims to change by raising awareness of the vital role organ donors play in the healthcare system.
The top state for registration is South Australia, where nearly three-quarters of the population is registered, in part due to the option to volunteer while applying for a driver’s licence.
About 75 per cent of Australians support organ donation, but when asked to decide in the moment, about half of families will say no.
DonateLife ACT Agency Manager Nadia Burkolter said that it was important for people to have conversations with their families now.
“People tend to wait for an easy opportunity. But it’s a serious discussion and conversation. Therefore, it may take an individual several touchpoints before they make that decision. But we hope that a week like this, DonateLife Week across the country, inspires people to make that choice,” she said.
Nadia said governments need to make the process of becoming a donor as pain-free as possible.
“Canberrans are generous. There’s no doubt about it. They volunteer, they’re health literate, they’re beautiful people. There’s just something about taking that next step, and if it’s right in front of them, it’s easy,” she said.
DonateLife Week will be lighting up buildings around Canberra magenta to encourage people to register as donors. Photo: Nicholas Ward.
DonateLife ACT promotes awareness through community outreach, education programs, and partnerships with healthcare providers to try to increase rates of organ donation.
For this week’s awareness campaign, the organisation is hosting a number of community engagement activities at events, including the Canberra Raiders home game and the Netball ACT State League, as well as lighting buildings around Canberra in magenta.
For information or to register to be an organ donor, visit DonateLife.gov.au.
