Organ donation awareness at the forefront of hockey community in round of significance

The importance of organ donation will be at the forefront of the WA hockey community’s minds in this week’s round of fixtures, with the Lizzie Watkins Organ Donor Round from Friday 5 May highlighting the importance of organ and tissue donation.  

In line with Hockey Australia’s themed rounds, and upon discussions with North Coast Raiders, Hockey WA have dedicated the upcoming round to draw focus on raising awareness around the importance of organ donation whilst continuing to honour the legacy Lizzie has left, not only within the hockey community, but across all families that have been helped by organ donation. 

“The Lizzie Watkins Organ Donor Round will always have special significance to North Coast Raiders Hockey Club, given the tragic accident that caused Lizzie's death whilst playing for the Premier League women’s team on 6th of May 2012,” North Coast Raiders President Anthony Sharpe said.  

“We will be celebrating the contribution Lizzie made from being an organ donor and saving five lives. 

“This year marks the transition of the match to the inaugural Lizzie Watkins Organ Donor Round, where the WA hockey community can celebrate Lizzie's legacy and support and promote organ donation. 

“The Watkins family are strong advocates for raising awareness of organ donation and feel the time is right for the round to shift focus to this cause and to include the whole hockey community.  

“North Coast Raiders Hockey Club are fully supportive of the initiative, whilst still commemorating Lizzie's life and giving life to others through donating her organs.”  

The importance of organ donation cannot be understated. In 2022 alone, approximately 1,400 people from 80,000 who passed away in hospitals were suitable organ donors.  

Of this, 701 families said 'yes' to donations, representing a national consent rate of 54% with 454 people becoming donors. There are 800 Australians waitlisted for a transplant and around 14,000 additional people on dialysis, some of whom may need a kidney transplant.  

Hockey WA and the North Coast Raiders Hockey Club encourage all WA hockey members to undertake education around organ donation and help donor consent rate increase to save more lives.  

The round will commence on Friday 5 May, with Lizzie Watkins’ North Coast Raiders and Victoria Park to clash from 3:30pm, Saturday 6 May at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University. All North Coast Raiders teams will continue the 10-year tradition of wearing pink armbands or ribbons in honour of Lizzie and to help raise awareness around organ donations.  

For more on organ donation, visit donatelife.gov.au.  

Statistics from Donate Life, Australian Government – Organ and Tissue Authority