Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Team
‘Swiss Community Australia’
Are you donating blood or considering doing so? Join the lifeblood team of the Swiss Alliance Australia (SAA). To give back something truly special, we have set up a team ‘Swiss Community Australia’. When you donate blood, let them know you are part of our team – or if you have an account with the Australian Red Cross already, login, search for ‘Swiss Community Australia’ and join the team. Every donation you make goes towards our team’s tally.
Why did the Swiss Alliance Australia create the team?
To give back to the Australian Community and continue the legacy of Swiss Humanitarian Henri Dunant, founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
In 1859, the suffering of thousands of men on both sides of the Battle of Solferino led Henri Dunant to push for the creation of a neutral and impartial organisation to protect and assist the war wounded. He also proposed creating national relief societies, made up of volunteers, trained in peacetime to provide neutral and impartial help to relieve suffering in times of war.
His humanitarian vision materialised in 1863 when he, along with Gustave Moynier and other like-minded individuals, established the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva.
Today, the Red Cross blood donation program is an integral part of the humanitarian services offered by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The blood donation initiative, rooted in the notion of voluntary service, exemplifies the commitment to saving lives and alleviating human suffering. With blood being a lifeline for countless medical treatments and emergency interventions, the Red Cross plays a crucial role in ensuring a steady and safe blood supply.
Henry Dunant was awarded the first-ever Nobel Peace Prize in 1901 for what was described as the “supreme humanitarian achievement of the 19th century”. Now, 150 years later, his legacy lives on in the tens of thousands of staff and volunteers who continue to help others around the world each day.
Let’s continue with his legacy. Your blood can save lives. Let’s do it together.
CARMEN TROCHSLER – SAA COMMITTEE MEMBER / CSA DELEGATE