The 38-year-old is on the transplant waiting list.

But the signs are promising that his father Deniss will get the green light to donate a kidney to his son it would be the best gift a father could give son as father's day approaches.

Live kidney donations represented 35 per cent of all kidney transplants in 2010.

Mr McPhail, whose immune system attacks the filters in his kidneys, has spoken out in the hope to lift awareness about organ donation.

"It's so important that everyone knows your wishes, especially in your family," Mr McPhail said.

"It makes it so much easier in that time."

Plans are in place aimed at doubling the NSW organ donation rate including the move to a single national register - the Australian Organ Donor Register.

There were 1135 people on the waiting list for a kidney transplant in Australia as of early January.

Mr McPhail has had kidney problems since he was a teenager.

The husband and father-of-one had another health blow when he was diagnosed with cancer in his left kidney which was removed at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital two months ago.