The first blood donor centre in the southern hemisphere to be located in an elite sports precinct has opened its doors to donors this week at Sydney Swans HQ.

Footy fans, and the community alike, can now donate blood or plasma at a unique Australian Red Cross Lifeblood donation centre in Moore Park.

With New South Wales now using around a third of the nation’s blood collections, more than is collected in the state, the centre will provide a critical boost of 22,000 donations every year helping an estimated 66,000 lives, including cancer patients, new mums, and those in accidents and trauma.

Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley was the first person to proudly roll up a sleeve to donate. In a true sign of teamwork, registered nurse and AFLW player Lexi Hamilton collected his blood.

“Giving blood saves lives, and it was a privilege to be the first donor for this centre. Lexi did a great job in making me feel comfortable and the whole team here are already doing a fantastic job,” Harley said.

“We’re also very proud to have Australian Red Cross Lifeblood here at Sydney Swans HQ because we recognise how important it is for Aussies to roll up their sleeves and donate.”

The Moore Park centre’s opening comes at a time when blood demand in New South Wales is at its highest in a decade and the need for plasma is at its highest level ever.

Lifeblood Director of Collections Operations Brett King said New South Wales is relying on interstate donations to support its hospitals.

“NSW uses around a third of the nation’s blood supply but contributes just over a quarter of collections. It also uses around 35 per cent of the nation’s plasma medications, more than any other state in Australia. This new centre means that more Sydneysiders will be able to help us lift our game in growing donations in NSW.”

The parents and doctor of a young Swans fan and blood recipient from Sydney Children’s Hospital will also donate blood at the new Moore Park Donor Centre today and are calling for more people to give.

Eleven-year-old Jamison Sheather was diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia in 2022, a disease which stopped his body from making enough blood cells. He relied on regular transfusions to prevent infections and internal bleeding before receiving a life-changing bone marrow transplant from his brother, Lachie.

Around 2500 blood bags and medications are issued to hospitals across New South Wales every day.

“Before Jamison got sick, I didn’t realise how important blood donation was, but this quickly become a lifeline for Jamison. He relied on transfusions to help keep him well while we worked up to his bone marrow transplant and I truly can’t thank blood donors enough,” Christie, Jamison’s mum, said.

“Since Jamison finished treatment, I have become a regular blood donor and have been encouraging all our friends and family to sign up too. It’s such a simple thing to do but for families like ours, it makes a life-changing difference.”.

Jamison’s doctor, A/Prof Adam Nelson, Director of Bone Marrow Transplant in the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick said,

“As a doctor caring for children with cancer and blood disorders, I see the lifesaving difference donated blood makes to our patients and the impact of this cannot be underestimated. It plays a vital role in helping us provide children like Jamison with the care and treatment they need and without it these children would not survive.”

Brett thanked Tom Harley and Christie Sheather for being amongst the first to roll up their sleeves and said the need for blood does not stop.

“33,000 donations are needed across Australia each week – that’s a similar number to attendance figures for a Sydney Swans home game.

“We are grateful for the support of the mighty Swans and their fans, originally known as the ‘Bloods’, and their commitment to saving lives through blood and plasma donation.”

To book a donation at Sydney Swans HQ or any Lifeblood donor centre, call 13 14 95 or book online at lifeblood.com.au or on the DonateBlood app.