Instead, final year medical students from the University of Sydney school of rural health who are in their final year of training at Orange hospital were urging people to think seriously about organ donation on the first day of DonateLife Week.

The week is designed to promote organ and tissue donation in Australia and encouraging people to register online and to have the all important conversation with family members.

“The most important thing anyone can do is sit down with their family and let them know that it is their wish for their organs to be donated,”  Nic Halliwell said.

Orange hospital is fortunate to have an organ and tissue specialist nurse on site who liaises with families, medical staff and hospitals in Sydney where transplants take place.

“Jake and I are in our final year of training and we’ve been able to see how someone can be on the brink of death and then receive a transplant,” he said.

“I know families don’t like the thought of discussing organ and tissue donation with the thought something bad might happen to their parent, but the reality is having that conversation is incredibly important,” said Mr Halliwell.

Mr Brunning said several people had come up to them yesterday at their stand in Orange Central to offer money.

“But its not money we are after - we really want to get the message out about the importance of registering your wishes,” he said.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au