When Jamie Wilson told his family about his intention to be an organ donor, his parents listened but did not expect they would need to act on the information.
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But the nonchalant conversation took on a tragic level of importance in March, when the 26-year-old died from injuries sustained in a car crash on the Hume Highway.
He had not yet registered his wishes on the federal government's organ donation website, but his discussion in front of the television at the start of the year meant his family knew the right decision to make.
"It wasn't until we were sitting in a waiting room at Canberra Hospital surrounded by doctors who had just spoken the bad news that his words came back to us," Jamie's father, Jeff Wilson said.
"He never got to register as an organ donor but he made it clear to us what he wanted to do."
Jamie's liver, kidneys and pancreas prolonged or saved the lives of four people.
On Sunday his Goulburn-based family will return to Canberra to meet relatives of other organ donors and recipients for DonateLife Thank You Day at the National Arboretum.
The Wilsons have championed the cause of discussing your wishes about organ donation with family members, setting up the "Do A Jamie" movement to encourage others to follow in Jamie's footsteps.
They received a personal "thank-you" note from someone who received part of Jamie's liver, but Jeff said they did not want plaudits.
"We're not after thanks, because it wasn't our decision," he said. "Jamie is the one they all should be thanking."
DonateLife state medical director, associate professor Frank van Haren said ACT and southern NSW residents tended to be supportive of becoming organ donors, but registration rates remained low.
"People are clearly willing to say yes and be an organ donor, but registration rates are lower in the ACT than nationally," he said. "There is some work to be done, but we see it's improving."
Dr van Haren said the thank-you day was an important way of spreading awareness of the importance of organ donation across the country.
"The community should know how important this is, so we thank the donors and their families who have made such a generous decision during a difficult time."
