This week in Parliament, Health Minister Reba Meagher acknowledged Ms Johanson’s efforts when she introduced amendments to the Human Tissue Act 1983 allowing the organs of children in the care of the State to be donated after their death.

“It is a victory for common sense and a tribute to a mother who would not admit defeat when she was thwarted by red tape from authorising that her daughter Mandy’s organs be donated after her death,” Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay said.

“I worked closely with Di following the dreadful tragedy when her daughter was fatally injured in the driving accident at Warialda where three young people lost their lives. Although Mandy fought on for four days after the accident, she finally died from her brain injuries.”

The MP said the clause in the Act which prevented Mandy’s mother from donating her daughter’s organs was inexplicable and had caused inexpressible grief to her family.

“A generous gesture to make some sense of Mandy’s death through helping others was thwarted at the last minute and it is through Di Johanson’s determined efforts that this should never happen again,” Mr Torbay said.

“She is a brave woman and her contribution is now enshrined in State law.”

A taskforce – which the Inverell mother joined – was formed to report back to Parliament on the issue.

Ms Johanson said her daughter had always liked helping people and had expressed an interest in organ donation in the years before her death.

“We wanted to be able to donate Mandy’s organs because she was a perfectly healthy young girl who could have helped so many people out there,” Ms Johanson said.

“There’s recipients crying out for organs every day and to see her laying in that hospital bed and not be able to do anything to help anyone else.

“We knew we were losing her, there’s nothing we could do about that, but we could have helped someone else.

“I’m very proud to say that I was a part of this and that this will leave a legacy to Mandy that her death wasn’t in vain.”