RAAF Base East Sale has won the \u2018Battle of the Bases\u2019 blood challenge, an annual blood donation competition between RAAF Bases East Sale and Wagga.<\/p>\n
The competition is conducted over a 12 month period and includes all blood donations made by Air Force personnel posted to those two bases. The donation numbers are then weighted against the base populations to give a percentage based result.<\/p>\n
Group Captain Tan said the \u2018Battle of the Bases\u2019 aimed to boost Australia\u2019s blood supplies and allow Air Force to give back to the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cTraditionally there\u2019s a rivalry between RAAF Base East Sale and RAAF Base Wagga, due to the competition between air and ground training academies,\u201d Group Captain Tan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2014 Air Force decided to take advantage of this healthy competition and it resulted in a significant increase in blood donations from the two regional training bases.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past five years, East Sale and Wagga have made 3423 donations \u2013 which may have helped save over 10,000 lives. At the very least, we have done something profoundly positive for many Australians.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Chester is also a regular blood and plasma donor.<\/p>\n
He said blood donations assisted a wide range of people in life threatening situations and encouraged the broader Gippsland community to consider blood donation as a way to make a difference in the community.<\/p>\n