The emergency crew regularly rolled up their sleeves and made a whooping 216 donations last year –  saving 648 lives in the community.

Operations manager Guy Baddock received a certification of appreciation on behalf of the group and said the organisation was thrilled to take out the top spot for the third year in a row.

“It’s always good to know we are achieving,” he said.

“We love knowing that we can give so much back to the community. Across the state, the Rural Fire Service is a big supporter of our communities so it’s nice to be recognised.” Red25 is a group blood donation initiative by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service which rallies workplaces, community groups, schools and universities around Australia to save lives through blood donation.

The aim of the program is to hit a target of 25 per cent of all required blood donations.

Red Cross Blood Service spokesperson Brian Bruce said the initiative was open to all groups including corporate or social. 

"We even have some groups who do it as coffee club on the weekends – they give blood together and then have a coffee. It makes a huge difference."

And there is still plenty of work to do. 

One in three Australians need a blood donation at some time in their lifetimes but only one in 30 people donate blood. 

​According to Maitland’s Donor Centre manager Michelle Short, there are still more blood donations desperately needed every month. "We need about 100 to 150 more whole blood donations every month,” she said.

"We are collecting plasma well but we always need more plasma. People can donate it fortnightly … and plasma makes 18 lifesaving drugs."

​To make an appointment or learn more about Red25, call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au. Maitland Donor Centre is located at 39 St Andrews Street, Maitland.