SINCE receiving a kidney transplant late last year, John Steele of Fennell Bay has been keen to add years to his life, and life to his years.
"My father died at age 93. I want to beat that," Mr Steele, 73, said.
He plans to start mowing his lawn again, and getting back into bushwalking.
And most of all, he's looking forward to dusting off his old Viscount caravan and taking to the road with wife Judy.
The Steeles had been regular campers.
But prior to the transplant, the time-consuming demands of John's kidney dialysis treatment and the debilitating effects of his illness meant that camping was out of the question.
The caravan, as a result, had been untouched in more than 18 months.
Mr Steele is the public face of a local campaign aimed at recruiting more organ and tissue donors.
The campaign is being driven by Toronto Rotary Club whose president, Robert Hertogs, just happens to be Mr Steele's neighbour, bushwalking buddy, and temporary lawn mower man.
The campaign, part of Donate Life Week (which concludes on Sunday), is all about recruiting more organ and tissue donors.
"We're seeking the support of our local community to raise awareness about the procedures required not only to register as a donor, but to ensure that those who register have their wishes fulfilled," Mr Hertogs said.
The big message is that simply ticking the donor box on your driver's licence is no longer enough to ensure that an intending donor's wishes are carried out.
"We're sure many people have ticked their licence and believe they are registered as a donor," Mr Hertogs said.
"This is not the case, as you need to a take a step further. It is this further step that Toronto Rotary is trying to make easier for everyone."
Jeanette Lacey, an area organ and tissue co-ordinator for Hunter New England Health, said the NSW Driver's Licence donor registration system was under review.
Intending donors must now register with the Australian Organ Donor Register.
"We're encouraging people to have a conversation to ensure that their loved ones know what their wishes are about tissue and organ donation," Ms Lacey said.
"It's important that people make this decision, and have this discussion with their families well in advance of their death."
And in the event of a potential donor's death, hospital staff will always ask the family for the final OK on tissue and organ donation, she said.
Mr Hertogs said the Rotary Club had declared Toronto and the postcode area of 2283 as "Transplant Territory".
"So we've set an ambitious but realistic goal of getting 2283 registrations," he said.
Mr Steele, meanwhile, said he still had a long way to go in his recovery.
"I'll be on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of my life, and I'm going back to John Hunter Hospital once or twice a week at the moment to help get the mix of drugs just right," he said.
"But I'm feeling a hell of a lot better."
His energy levels are up, and swelling is subsiding.
"In fact, I'm almost at the stage where I'm thinking about mowing my own lawn again."
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