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YOURVOICE
edition October 2014
Slow pace
to recovery
Music
that’s worth
the wait
When Kate
met Bieber
Finding a new pace
99 days after MY accident
Before the accident,
I worked as a pastry
cook at Gillies in Bendigo
where I live with my
family. I had worked
there for most of my life
and was used to the
early mornings.
I’m really into health and wellbeing,
which all started when I was 17
and took up running. I used to run
about 80 kilometres a week until I
was 42. I found at that age you start
to get a few little niggles when you
push yourself, so I switched
over to a bike. I was probably doing
between 300 and 350 kilometres a
week up to the point of my accident.
In the lead up to the accident I’d
spent a couple of days at home
looking after my wife because she’d
been quite ill and I had to take her
to hospital. She actually spoke to me
the night before the accident and
said, ‘Just be careful when you’re
out. I just have this feeling’.
On March 19, 2010 – the day of the
accident – I got up at my usual time
to go to work at 4:15 am. I’d ridden
about seven kilometres and was
checking behind me to make sure
I was safe. A couple of trucks
drove past and then I saw a third
set of lights on a smaller vehicle
approaching.
All of a sudden the lights changed
direction and two seconds later I was
hit by a postal van and thrown about
eight to 10 metres.
I landed on my knees facing the
vehicle and I remember thinking,
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‘My bike’s broken and I’m going
to be late for work today’.
I had no idea how seriously injured
I was. The next three to four days
in hospital were pretty much a blur.
I was on quite strong pain relief,
ketamines and morphine.
I had multiple rib fractures, a broken
right shoulder blade, broken teeth,
and a closed head injury, I lost a lot
of skin on my back and had cuts
and sprains on my feet from being
ejected out of the bike clips.
But the most serious injuries were
in my spine where I had three
compressed fractures in the middle
area and two burst fractures in the
lower back.
My first memory when I woke up in
the hospital was seeing the face of
the orthopaedic surgeon. I told her
I was frightened I was going to be
paralysed. I remember her hand
grabbing my face and she looked
me in the eyes and she said, ‘Don’t
worry I repair four spines a week.
You’re going to be fine’.
I was in surgery for five hours.
Afterwards, the doctors discovered
they’d left some swabs in my chest
so I spent a further two hours in
surgery while they removed them.
Going back to work
was the final jigsaw
piece of my recovery.
When you’re focussed
on something else
other than your own
situation, the last bits
of your body heal on
their own.
doesn’t have really good health and
had to look after me as if I was a baby.
I was basically on my back in a back
brace and not able to do anything
for eight months. For the first year,
all I did was sleep for 18 hours a day.
I had to wear a back brace for
three months.
I had lung problems for quite a long
time after that because the doctors
had to collapse my left lung to get
the swabs out.
Being an athlete all my life, I was sure
the more active I was, the quicker
I was going to recover. But it only
made things worse. I had a couple
of really nasty flare-ups that required
multiple cortisone shots in all the
muscles around the burst fractures
in my spine. I had to take a massive
amount of anti-inflammatories and
I couldn’t get comfortable in bed,
That was a really down time.
For the first 18 months after the
accident, I was cross and angry. The
driver who hit me was actually a
neighbour three or four doors down
from me. Most days I would see this
fellow drive past my house and he
wouldn’t even acknowledge me. He
didn’t even come over to apologise.
He told the police officers he just lost
concentration. Too many people are
injured by drivers not concentrating
or using mobile phones. Causing
serious injury and harm to others
because of inattention on the roads
isn’t an excuse.
My wife and two boys, who are
22 and 18, were obviously quite
distressed. Particularly my wife, who
The TAC started making fortnightly
payments to supplement the fact
that I couldn’t work, which was
fantastic. I remember when I had
a nasty muscle flare-up they paid for
me to get a couple of soft supportive
back braces.
They still pay for a delivery of
firewood, which I used to chop
before the accident.
When I was back on my feet I decided
I was going to set goals. My three
major goals were getting a job,
being pain-free and taking a very
short run on a soft surface.
I just kept exercising to achieve those
goals. Walking was difficult for the
first couple of years. I would say it
probably took two and a half years
to be able to walk properly like
everyone else.
I also started going the pool doing
a little bit of freestyle swimming.
Within about six months I was
swimming about three kilometres
and walking about three kilometres.
But after 25 months I still couldn’t
walk really well and I was quite
unstable. For example, I’d wash the
car and I’d be all wobbly like I’d been
drinking. The doctor referred me
to a clinical pilates specialist.
I started doing pilates core exercises
and I bought a pilates machine to use
at home. I started doing about half
an hour a day on that. It helped me
get to a place where I’m 100 per cent
pain-free most of the time.
Getting a job was a really fantastic
feeling. I work as an occupational
health and safety officer at a local
carpet company. I started working
25 hours a week and gradually built
up to 35 hours.
Going back to work was the final
jigsaw piece of my recovery. When
you’re focussed on something else
other than your own situation, the last
bits of your body heal on their own.
My last goal was going on for a run.
I went to Apollo Bay 999 days after
the accident and walked down to the
beach near the water’s edge. I took
a few steps and I went for a jog. That
was a real achievement.
Pilates for recovery
Pilates is a unique system of rehabilitative and conditioning exercise
created by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900’s. Joseph studied yoga and
the rigorous regimens of the ancient Greeks to improve his own health.
During World War One he continued to develop and use his work to
help rehabilitate wounded people.
The premise of pilates is that a few well done exercises are more
effective than many sloppy repetitions. The emphasis is on quality
rather than the quantity of movement.
Correctly executed movements become habit and contribute to
optimum physical strength. These basic tenets have proven over the
years that pilates is effective for people of all fitness levels in enhancing
life by building core strength, reducing stress and rehabilitating injuries.
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Music
that’s worth
the wait
The Heist eGallery is an online
exhibition space showcasing a
wide range of visual artwork.
The gallery opened during Mental Health Week
in 2011. Heist was created in response to barriers
artists with a disability face in getting their
artwork exhibited.
Heist’s purpose is to provide professional
development opportunities for artists with
a disability and see their work reach a wider
audience. The gallery is run by Arts Access Victoria
(AAV). Established in 1974, AAV aims to build
strong community based partnerships to grow and
support arts programs for people with a disability.
Pauline Petrus photograph courtesy of Kelly at Wilde Photography
Waiting on hold is a part of dealing
with big business and can
sometimes make or break your day.
An auditory nightmare of repetitive
commercials or taglines, or a radio
just slightly off its station can make
waiting on hold more than painful,
particularly if you’re already
stressed and under pressure.
Accomplished musician, Pauline Petrus, is making
sure that people waiting on hold when they ring the
Transport Accident Commission (TAC) are soothed
by a relaxing and meditative piano solo.
Pauline responded to call out in Your Voice to submit
original music for the TAC’s telephone system.
She is no stranger to the TAC after being injured
in three separate car crashes which left her unable
to continue teaching music. But Pauline is still able
to enjoy what she loves most, composing and
performing original tracks.
Pauline said: “I feel I was, and still am, lucky to have
the enjoyment of music as an interest. Plus playing
and composing music gave me an outlet at those
trying times during rehabilitation.”
Art can have a significant impact on the lives of
people with disabilities. Many people find meaning
and inspiration in art. It can also provide healing
and tranquillity. Julie Reid, long-time AAV artist
and Heist exhibitionist said, “Art allows me to give
voice to things that words often fail, it allows other
ideas to enter and reconnects me with those parts
of myself I thought I’d lost”.
Get your
caffeine
f
fi
ix
close to the beach
If you live near Frankston and are looking for a
great place to catch up with friends for a coffee,
check out CoffeeHead II. The café is part of the
Quest building in Frankston, close to the beach
and has a wheelchair-friendly side entrance and
toilets close by. CoffeeHead II has good coffee
and delicious food that’s not too expensive.
The menu includes meals from different countries,
like Japan, as well as Australian food and staff too.
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Welcome to your new-look YOUR VOICE
This year’s newsletter will feature shorter stories, more updates and
community activities which are more relevant to you. You can help us
make the newsletter better by sending us your stories or sharing feedback.
Simply email intac@tac.vic.gov.au
When
Kate
met
Bieber
Dreams came true for
Justin Bieber fan, Kate
O’Neill, when he
performed an intimate
concert for her and her
friends. Courtesy VEVO.
An “impossible dream” came true
for Justin Bieber fan, Kate O’Neill,
when the Canadian singer
performed an intimate concert
for her and her friends.
Kate was injured in a car crash which
left her with broken ribs, a fractured
spine, internal bleeding and
lacerations to her internal organs.
Kate was a passenger in a car that
was overtaking a truck, and swerved
to miss a car heading in the opposite
direction, hitting a tree.
The 19-year-old had tickets to all of
Justin Bieber’s ‘Believe’ tour dates
in Australia but was unable to see
her idol because she was recovering
in hospital.
Kate’s friends launched a social
media campaign called
#JustinMeetKate to get ‘Biebs’
to perform a concert for her.
The Herald Sun highlighted the
campaign after it trended at the top
of tweets and the popstar tweeted
a link to the newspaper’s article
about Kate’s efforts to meet him,
writing “special girl. been hearing
a lot about her. Hmm.”
Two days after the Tweet, Kate
was chauffeured from Epworth
Rehabilitation to a Docklands studio
for an acoustic gig with Biebs and
about 50 other fans.
Justin, 19, Instagrammed several
sweet pictures of the new pals,
writing, “Me and my girl Kate :)
she’s so strong.”
Kate said: “I’m just so grateful
to everyone who made it happen;
Justin, Justin’s crew, VEVO, Hot
Hits, and everyone who tweeted it.”
“It’s given me the power to soldier
on and push through my recovery,
I’m so happy I got to see him.”
Kate’s mum, Jacinta, said meeting
Justin two weeks after the accident
gave Kate a positive focus in the
days after her accident.
Kate said: “It was like the best day
of my life. I’ve never cried so much
ever.” Justin even serenaded Kate
during “One Less Lonely Girl,” which
was what she described as her
“impossible dream”.
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Sensory
gardens
Sensory gardens are designed to be accessible
and enjoyable to visitors, including people with
a disability. These gardens provide individual
and combined sensory opportunities that visitors
might not normally experience.
A sensory garden can contain scented and edible
plants, sculptures and sculpted handrails, water
features, textured touch-pads, magnifying-glass
screens, braille and audio induction loop descriptions.
Many sensory gardens provide experience for
multiple senses; those specialising in scent are
sometimes called scented gardens, those specialising
Other sensory gardens
Sensory gardens open
to the public in Victoria:
he Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
T
(Sensory gardens include the Grey Garden,
the Herb Garden and the Children’s Garden)
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Mambourin Sensory Gardens, Werribee
in music and sound are sound gardens where the
equipment doubles up to provides an enhanced
opportunity for strategic developmental, learning
and educational outcomes.
Sensory Gardens usually have an enhanced
infrastructure to permit wheelchair access and meet
other accessibility concerns. The design and layout
provides a stimulating journey through the senses,
heightening awareness, and bringing positive
learning experiences.
Media courses
for people with
a disability
Disability Media Australia (DMA), a not-for-profit
organisation advancing the rights and inclusion
of people with disabilities in Australia, has a range
of media courses available for people.
DMA courses ensure people with a disability are seen
and heard through the production of diverse and
entertaining television, radio and film content; sharing
their stories and talents.
Courses include
Contact us
Telephone
8.30am to 5.30pm,
Monday to Friday
1300 654 329 (local call)
1800 332 556 (toll-free
outside the Melbourne
metropolitan area)
Address
60 Brougham Street
Geelong VIC 3220
• ‘Media Training for Students with Disabilities’,
• ‘A – Z of Podcasting’ and
• ‘TV Skills – on the job’.
Mailing address
TAC
GPO Box 742
Melbourne VIC 3220
There are 12-month courses available for people who have funding packages
to complete them.
Website
www.tac.vic.gov.au
Find out more at http://disabilitymedia.org.au/us
Empower is published by the Transport
Accident Commission. © Copyright
Transport Accident Commission, 2014
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Share your story by emailing us at intac@tac.vic.gov.au