Mr Walker has donated blood through the Australian Red Cross for more than four decades.

The Hastings resident has made an incredible 524 donations, with his most recent occurring yesterday at the Port Macquarie Donor Centre.

Mr Walker started giving blood when he was 18 years old and living in Sydney.

“At the time I felt like it was a good idea, and my mother had been a donor before which impressed me,” Mr Walker said. 

Mr Walker donates plasma cells every fortnight.

“It’s something I started doing in the 1980’s, when my blood type was a little bit more rare,” Mr Walker said.

“It was a bit different back then, because there wasn’t the machine that they have now, so it took longer.”

There have been several extended periods when the selfless individual was unable to donate.

“I travelled quite a bit in recent years, and when I’ve come back from deepest Africa I had to wait a while,” Mr Walker said.

“You just wait six or seven months and get back to it.”

Mr Walker and his wife Clare retired to King Creek three years ago, and are enamoured with their tree change.

“We lived in Sydney for 39 years, in the same house,” Mr Walker said.

“We’ve been here three years and we already know our neighbours up here better and have made some great friends.

“It really is a lovely spot.”

Mr Walker said his own state of health acts as an ongoing impetus for him to remain involved with blood donations.

“I’ve been fortunate enough that I’ve been healthy and never had a major illness or injury,” Mr Walker said.

“I’ve never needed a blood transfusion. 

“My wife had to receive it once, and my son has also needed it in the past.

“For some people who need blood, there’s no real alternative.”

A spokesperson for Australian Red Cross Blood Service said that Mr Walker had started donating at one of New South Wales’ first blood banks.

“Mr Walker’s milestone number of blood donations have helped save the lives of 1500 Australians in need,” the spokesperson said.

The recognition of Mr Walker’s achievement comes as Australians celebrate National Blood Donor Week fromJuly 14 to 21.