The Australian Transplant Games are held every two years and serve as the country’s largest awareness activity for organ and tissue donation, the Games’ website said.
Rotorua transplant recipient Bryan Eckersley has beaten the odds of survival after he was given a new heart 19 years ago. Photo / Megan Wilson
Nearly 500 participants competed in 19 sports at the 2024 Games, ranging from lawn bowls and petanque to athletics and cycling.
The previous Games were held in 2018 on the Gold Coast. They were to be held in Launceston in 2020 but were cancelled due to Covid.
Eckersley wins six gold, one bronze at Games
Eckersley told the Rotorua Daily Post part of his transplant assessment involved answering what he hoped to achieve from the operation.
“I was always a sportsman in my younger days and [said] that I’d like to be able to compete in sports again, which I’ve done.”
Eckersley said he did field hockey, wrestling, speed roller-skating and roller hockey when he was younger.
Now, he does between 10 and 12 hours per week of physical activity, including mountain biking with a group, going to the gym, ten-pin bowling and petanque.
Bryan Eckersley pictured in 2018 after winning five gold medals and one bronze medal in a variety of sports at the Australian Transplant Games. Photo / Stephen Parker
This year was his seventh Australian Transplant Games. He won gold medals in the 5km walk, shotput, discus, ball throwing, petanque and ten-pin bowling, and a bronze in darts in his age group category of 70-79.
But after not having the event for several years, “it was a little bit sad to hear that so many had passed on”, he said.
“The good part is still being able to compete physically and catch up with those that were there who you’ve been friends with for years.”
Eckersley said the World Transplant Games would be held next year in Dresden, Germany.
“That is a wish list to go there, or Australia the next year to compete in the Australian Games, but it all depends on my health. I’ve been pretty lucky up ‘til now... "
Bryan Eckersley pictured in 2010 after winning eight medals at the Australian Transplant Games. Photo / Andrew Warner
He has also had two knee replacements, “so I do put up with a bit of pain”.
“It’s just part of it. I enjoy doing it, so I put up with it.”
He also encouraged organ donors to make their families aware of their wishes because families could overrule them if they died.
The Ministry of Health website says even if an individual makes it clear before their death they wish to donate their organs, in New Zealand, that person’s family has the absolute right to decline the donation of their loved one’s organs, and their decision must be respected.
Without the consent of the family, organ donation cannot occur.
Organ Donation New Zealand said on its website 64 deceased donors from ICUs in 13 donor hospitals in New Zealand donated organs and tissues for transplantation last year.
A further 57 people donated tissues only following their death. The donations led to more than 200 people receiving life-saving kidney, liver, lung, heart or pancreas transplants.
Many more received tissue transplants, for parts such as cornea, sclera, heart valves and skin.
