Over Sixty Winter 2022 Digital

5 NEWS OVERSIXTY.COM.AU | WINTER 2022 ‘Bloody good’ donation milestone reached Power struggles SAHAR MOURAD NEWS P ort Macquarie man Bruce de Graaf has made the extraordinary accomplishment of 600 blood donations. Bruce, 60, was egged on by a dare from his aunt over 30 years ago, who told him that he’d never be able to match her own impressive donation figure. “My Aunty Mary told me she had done 70 donations, and that I would never catch her,” he said. “Smart lady that one – the challenge was accepted.” Bruce, whose blood type is the highly in demand O positive, now skateboards to an Australian Red Cross Lifeblood donation centre every fortnight to give generously. He has now become the first person in Port Macquarie – and one of only 60 people in Australia – to have hit 600 donations. All those donations have contributed to saving the lives of up to1800people including new mothers, infants, cancer patients and trauma victims. Whenaskedforadviceandencouragement on the process of donating, Bruce explained that it was a rewarding experience. “The vampires at [Lifeblood] are lovely and it doesn’t hurt much at all, so I encourage others to put something back, roll up your sleeves and save a life,” he said. Bruce thanked his Aunty Mary, now 85, saying that without her support he would not have reached the incredible milestone. NEWS Inspired to donate blood by Bruce’s outstanding achievement? Visit lifeblood.com.au Photo: Courtesy Lifeblood CHARLOTTE FOSTER NEWS A s power bills continue to rise across the country, many Australian seniors are increasingly concerned about facing a harsh winter and being unable to afford their power bills as they try to staywarm. According to the Australian Energy Market Operator, the wholesale cost of electricity in Q1 2022 is up 141 per cent on Q1 2021. It is also 67% higher since Q4 2021, with household power bills only set to increase further after July 1. So, what has caused this vast increase? There are multiple factors: the Russian-led war in the Ukraine is one, but others are closer to home: firstly, the decades-long battle over climate science resulted in a critical shortage of energy generation investment; and secondly, we allowed large global energy companies to control our natural gas supplies and dictate the price of gas on the east coast of Australia. Environmental factors, such as storms, bushfires and floods, also put pressure on the electricitynetwork, and in turndriveupprices. Continued on page 6 Cartoon: Royston