Lasallian Service
Blood Bank
Lasallian Service is a programme undertaken by every Year 9 student to support and promote practical Christianity. Through a one week community placement chosen and organized by the student, with the support of our teachers, we aim to nurture Lasallian values including empathy, compassion, mindfulness, and the service of others. During the placement our students maintain a diary to reflect on their experience and are visited by a staff member. For many students the week poses real challenges in terms of relating to others; the disabled, the sick, the lonely and the elderly. In their reflections, students find this a time of growth in awareness of themselves and others. We have strong relationships with the placement supervisors. This year many have praised the kindness and thoughtfulness of our current students. Mr Christopher Fleming
This year De La Salle Students will help save more than 411 lives by donating blood to the Red Cross Blood Bank The coordinator of the Blood Bank effort said he felt very privileged to be a member of the Lasallian family. “Watching our young men respond to a very difficult challenge made me very proud. I find it hard as a man in my 50’s to roll my sleeve up and allow a nurse to put a needle into my arm and watch as 370ml of my precious blood drains into a plastic bag,” Mr Hunter said. “It says a lot to me of the generosity of our young men when so many of them are willing to do this for absolutely no gain to themselves”. Mr Hunter said young people get a lot of criticism for their selfishness. “I would like to invite any critics to attend the PAC on any day the Red Cross Blood Bank returns for a visit next year and watch as they show their real colours again”. The following letter was received from the Red Cross “The Blood Service’s visit to De La Salle College on 6 September was another great visit as we managed to collect 48 units of whole blood. For this visit we had a target to collect 30+ units of blood, so your result was very pleasing for us especially during the winter months when so many of our regular donors are struck down by colds and flu. All your volunteers should be thanked and congratulated for their efforts. With every donation having the potential to save three lives, these 48 units donated have the potential to save up to 144 lives so on behalf of all potential recipients of this blood I say ‘thank you’. The Blood Service collected a total of 137 units of blood over our three school visits this year and this number has the potential to help 411 lives — a wonderful effort.” Kindest Regards Doug Allen Australian Red Cross Blood Service
40
