Billie used to play and coach local Aussie rules football in South Gippsland but at the start of 2004, during pre-season training, he "felt some difficulties and ended up getting diagnosed with heart disease". Billie says, "It wasn't until August where I was deteriorating and that's when they decided to put me on the heart transplant list. In November, Melbourne Cup Day, I received a heart".

That heart came from Matthew, a young man who had been in a motorcross accident. Billie has since met the donor family and, getting along well with them, visits them regularly. He says it was really special to have the opportunity to meet. "It was pretty tough, pretty emotional. I suppose from their point of view they just said to me, 'Look, in the end we couldn't save Matthew but we've had the opportunity to save you, Billie,' and for them that's very special."

Billie spent two weeks in hospital after the transplant, but it was another three months before he could settle in back home, what with daily rehabilitation programs and making sure his body didn't reject the organ. Even so, he (and, indeed, all transplant recipients) will take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life.

It takes a fair bit of stress to come out of the body and it depends how much the doctors have to handle the heart which could have effects on it.
Playing sport
Within just five months of his transplant, Billie was back on the footy field and played out the 2005 season. However, he's found it too physically taxing to continue. "I'm not complaining with what I've got," says Billie, "But the engine I used to have was pretty good and obviously it's not the same engine... I'd never get back to that fitness level".

But that's not because the heart Billie received from Matthew was defective. Rather, he says, "It could be the operation, the drugs, but it could be the heart itself. It takes a fair bit of stress to come out of the [donor's] body and then once it gets transplanted it depends how much the doctors have to handle the heart and things like that which could have effects on it".

Clearly, though, he's fit enough to compete in the games, together with 1,000 other transplant recipients. Are there any health risks for them? According to Billie, "No, not really. You have to go through a check up first and get thoroughly checked out, just to make sure everything's going well".

He'll be competing in numerous events, including a 5km run, squash and some track and field events. However, he's not necessarily aiming for gold. The games are run by Transplant Australia and, signing up, Billie thought, "It'd be good to meet other people... it's great to get around other people who have been through similar experience, and talk to them about their stories".