They come from the Moree Red Cross Blood Bank Committee for the support of the blood drive earlier this month.

The committee said the drive, held on Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10 at the Multi Purpose Centre on Frome Street, was a great success.

“We would like to send out a big thank you to all the individuals, community groups and organisations that helped make the two days of donation such a success,” committee member Erin McAliece said.

“We received a call from the Australian Red Cross Blood Service office this morning. They told us we took 358 donations over the two days in Moree plus we people signed up for the next one already,” she said.

The next donation day was supposed to be in June next year, as reported in the Moree Champion earlier this month. However due to clashes with school holidays and harvest time, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARDBS) are looking into a more suitable time for the Moree community.

Other committee members Helen Mitchell and Barbara Johnson said Mr Coulton and his staff should be thanked for their role in the planning of the day.

“Without Mark Coulton and his staff’s help I don’t think the blood bank would have come to Moree,” Ms Mitchell said.

Mr Coulton’s office and its facilities were used during the lead up to the day, their help included faxing paperwork to the ARCBS.

The local scouts group provided a gold coin donation barbecue on the day for people who gave blood and volunteers alike.

Other groups the committee would like to thank are; the VIEW club, cancer support group, CWA, APEX and Craig from Moree Bakehouse who donated food for the duration of the blood drive.