The popular 22-year-old apprentice electrician had spoken to his parents just six months earlier about his desire to donate his organs in the event of his death.

When he died in Canberra Hospital on January 21 last year after being the front-seat passenger in a car that rolled at a roundabout in Macgregor the night before, his family could not believe he was gone. He had an injury to the back of his head and, while brain dead, looked like he was simply sleeping. As his condition deteriorated, his family at least knew they wanted to adhere to his wishes.

Multiple organs were donated, with eight recipients, from a six-year-old child to a 70-year-old woman.

''It was a pretty easy decision on our part, to donate his organs,'' his older brother Aaron said.

''A lot of people ask if that was the hardest decision, and, not really. The hardest decision was to accept that he was gone. Giving him his final wish was probably the easiest.''

Kyall's heart, lungs and liver went to middle-aged men. A section of his liver went to a six-year-old child. His kidneys and pancreas went to middle-aged women.One cornea went to a 30-year-old woman, the other to a 70-year-old woman.

''We've received letters from some but not all, which is all done anonymously through Donate Life, the government organisation,'' Mr Green said.

''For our family, it was quite nice to receive those letters. And as far as we know, everyone who received those organs is still going well.''

Kyall was the second youngest of the four children of David and Jackie Green of Higgins. Family and friends gathered at his grave in Gungahlin a few weeks ago to remember him on the first anniversary of his death.

''He was very outgoing, he had over 1000 people at his funeral,'' Aaron said. ''He loved people, loved going out. People loved him.''

Aaron is the oldest of the siblings - the big brother - and he has continued to work on behalf of Kyall to increase awareness of organ donation.

Aaron has joined the board of Gift of Life Incorporated, the peak body for organ donor awareness in the ACT and surrounding district.

The Organ and Tissue Authority says there were six donors in the ACT last year, resulting in 25 organs transplanted to 23 recipients. Nationwide, it was a record year for organ donation, with 391 donors.

During national DonateLife Week, from February 23 to March 2, family members are urged to discuss whether they would like their organs donated. Mr Green has also encouraged people to take part in Gift of Life's DonateLife Walk around Lake Burley Griffin from 7am on February 26. And a gala ball fund-raising for DonateLife ACT will be held on February 22.

''I don't have anything against people if they don't want to donate your organs, that's fine. But if you do, it's something you should tell your family about,'' Aaron said.

Kyall, who went to Belconnen High and Hawker College, played for Wests Rugby and West Belconnen Leagues Club. Gift of Life has been chosen as the charity for the Brumbies' first game of the season at Canberra Stadium on February 22.

■ To register for Gift of Life's DonateLife Walk on February 26 go to www.giftoflife.asn.au. There is no fee to participate. Tickets for the Light for Life Ball for DonateLife ACT on February 22 are available at www.act.gov.au/lightforlife.