Mr Gough is riding his BMW motorbike around Australia, raising awareness of the importance and issues surrounding organ and tissue donation.

Around 30-40 motorbikes and riders gave him an “amazing” send-off on the lawns of Parliament House on Saturday.

His ride is in the lead-up to DonateLife week, February 19-26, and is in honour of his daughter, Melody, who died as a result of a car accident on Christmas Eve 2009.

Melody had previously discussed with her mother her wish to donate her organs - her tragic death helped three other people to live.

“It (Melody’s wish to donate organs) came as a surprise to me,” Mr Gough said on Sunday.

“But it was a way to honour Melody and honour her wishes as the last gesture we could do for her.

“It’s a positive thing that comes out of a tragedy – that’s an important message to spread.”

Melody was a promising photographer and on the threshold of a career as an assistant photo-media curator at the National Art Gallery.

Mr Gough said she had planned to join him on a ride around Australia, to capture the journey with her camera, but he was now making the trip in her memory.

Joining Mr Gough on Sunday’s ride – from an overnight stop in Narooma through to Lakes Entrance – was heart transplant recipient Christine Murray.

Ms Murray suffered cardiomyopathy, a deterioration of the heart muscle she said was a disease that ran in her family.

She received a heart transplant 10 years ago – and in the process donated the working valves from her failing heart – and said she is still going “awesomely”.

Mr Gough was certainly in awe of Ms Murray’s ride for the day – a bright red trike he likened to a “sports car with the freedom of a motorbike”.

Meanwhile, he was feeling the efforts of towing a trailer that contained everything he needed to survive the 8000km round trip.

With no dedicated support vehicle for the trip, Mr Gough’s trailer contained a deep-cycle battery and fridge, tent, stretcher, stove and food.

He is also carrying a copy of the DonateLife Book of Life, a collection of inspirational real-life stories about the life-changing benefits of organ and tissue donation.

“The beauty about this trip is I get to meet people waiting for transplants as well as those post-op,” Mr Gough said.

“It gives me different perspectives.”

Mr Gough is updating his website with ride reports each night and you can follow his journey – as well as find out important information about organ donation – at www.odar.com.au.