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Who’d think a broken finger could lead to so many changes and reframing of viewpoints (mostly mine)?
No using crutches or manual wheelchair for one then two then 6 weeks.
Two months can cultivate a firm reliance upon a motorised wheelchair, that I continually reframe in my head as such when people refer to it as my ‘electric chair’. It uses electricity to power it, yes, but I am not being frizzled to death folks.
Kerbs are simple to mount and hills easier to climb. Remembering to clip my safety belt in the MPT was tricky at first. One taxi ride and feeling unsafe quickly reminded me that footrests and belts are there for a reason. Strapped in by the van’s belt I may have been, but safe I did not feel. Yoda says, “belt put on shall you, always in van.’ Yes sir. I no longer feel concerned backing out of the multi purpose taxi wobbling side to side at a snail or hare pace fearing I will fall off the edge onto the pavement. Weekly visits to physiotherapy and doctor have cultivated a sedate, but steady, pace entering and later backing out onto the hoist. Vertigo is a thing of the past. Fears can be conquered.
An extendable stick aides in the picking up of so many bits and pieces dropped here and there. The redecorating of walls and doors is less of a concern now that the backwards operated joystick is under control. Missing paint. Wood. Ah what’s wrong with adding the odd new hue to the decor. 🙂 Why must I move the joystick left if I want to go right when moving backwards? My brain is confused. Cars work differently.
This chair not only saves me from being stuck in one place for months. It is supporting Lucy to lose the odd extra kilo from unexpected but ever so gratefully received treats that find their way to her when kitchen benches are further away than expected. The ever hungry bichon is starting to enjoy more jogs than walks since the wheelchair moves at a grand pace along the Booragoon Lake, now the pavement refurbishment has concluded. As long as the pavement looks relatively smooth and uncracked. She doesn’t necessarily feel the so pleased when we slow down quickly at unexpected cracks or rises in other footpaths that give me the jitters, not to mention when a driveway is uneven to the adjoining pathway on a trip to the local shopping centre or someone has parked over the walkway and I am uneven on grass and path. Nor do I feel so much joy when shops insist on placing their wares in displays in the midst of access pathways between the main carpeted displays. Seriously, why do so many aisles end up in dead ends, blocked by hangers of more wares. How is a person meant to turn around in a tight spot even using the most fantastic of tiny circumference motorised wheelchair. Don’t you want my business Mr/Ms Shop Owner? What about my husband’s.
Once was enough for me to offer to play ‘trains’ with my husband going up a steep hill. When his manual wheelchair stopped abruptly on our first and only trip to/from to local shopping centre neither of us expected my wheelchair had a rather huge hiccup motoring him along intent on saving his shoulders. It’s a somewhat unique feeling when a heavy chair tries to do a mono/wheely on its back tiny wheels while a lighter chair wants to throw it’s occupant out front ways, having stopped abruptly at a most unexpected uneven rise in concrete. Heart palpitations. Lesson #657. I go on ahead, or hang back, while he travels at his own pace.
But all in all the past months have been fine. The first option of trying to work a manual wheelchair and not go around in a circle whilst pushing with one arm on two rims, one designed to steer me left and the other right, could have driven me barmy. So would have staying seated before the tv, appealing as it sounds for a tiny time. And yes I’ve read some excellent novels.
Mobility is much underrated. And can be achieved in so many different ways. Society has certainly advanced a long way from the days when I was two years old and relied on a piece of wood with castors fashioned by my dad so I could scoop myself around the house and garden. But that’s a story for another day.
Yesterday I enjoyed being part of the crowd in Fremantle watching the fireworks, reliving our engagement day 11 years ago on the south Perth foreshore.
As my husband and I listened to families and friends enjoying the evening we explored multicultural food stalls nearby. Children and adults of all ages and abilities celebrated a public holiday. Yet the paradox still exists. Cheers and clapping excited voices ‘ooh’ and ‘aaahhh’ commenting on the array of colourful fireworks in rainbow splendour, amazing shapes and sizes; smoke polluting the sea air; time, money and effort; creating happy memories; simple fun and enjoyment of the great outdoors; being together; families, communities celebrating; fireworks which could have fed, clothed and housed how many people….
26 January: a day of celebration or a day of mourning and invasion?
It’s not so clear-cut as I once believed – back before my days of working with Australians for Reconciliation. Then it was time to enjoy a picnic with family and friends, arrange a cocktail party or jazz evening; listen to music and watch the fireworks by the Albert Park lake.
While 26 January 1788 marked the founding of Australia for some people, for many First Australians it was the beginning of the struggle for recognition as the original inhabitants and custodians of this land. For others, it is Survival Day—a celebration of the survival of people and culture, and the contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make to Australia.
Consider your viewpoint on Australia Day through looking at a 26 January fact sheet prepared by Reconciliation Australia.
Attitudes change. Times change. Traditions change. Some attitudes remain. The effects from some times live on. People change. People stay the same. History is there for us to remember and learn from. What is important doesn’t necessarily stay the same. It doesn’t necessarily change. It depends on our circumstances and value. How we react to it is what is important.
Consider what you hold dear and respect. Family. Community. Unity. Ability. Acceptance of difference and diversity. It’s more than tolerance. Saying Sorry. Hear felt sentiment reflected by heartfelt actions. Not an empty mouthpiece. Living for a brighter future embracing and supporting each other in all our similarities and variety. We’re all part of the human family. Pieces of a jigsaw which make a whole with time and patience; reach potentials given opportunities.
Image: courtesy of the Saltwater Freshwater Festival.
Motto: ‘To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.’ Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Kerrie lives in Perth, Western Australia, Australia and is the Sole Trader of Kerrie Duff Consulting.
She has a quirky sense of humour and has been (lovingly) called a craft-o-holic – especially with quilting, patchwork and lace-making. Kerrie occasionally masquerades as a mermaid with 3 other women (including at the 2012 International Day of Disability event in Northbridge )
She is a longstanding advocate for disability and human rights issues.
Kerrie’s awesome claim to fame is that she is a Paralympian and won a bronze for the 400 meters freestyle in England, 1984, with a personal best time by 11 seconds, yes, 11. Others improve by 100ths of seconds. Not Kerrie. Who knows what she would have done if she didn’t miscount the laps and keep a bit in reserve in case she needed to do another 100 meters!
Kerrie holds a Masters of Human Rights (Curtin; 2014), a Bachelor of Arts (Monash; 1983), is a certified Training and Assessment trainer (Morley Training Centre; 2013) and a Leaders for Tomorrow graduate (2013). She has a Full Blue from Monash University for her sporting achievements and was awarded the inaugural Malcolm B Menelaus Award from the Spina Bifida Foundation of Victoria in 2003.
Kerrie grew up in Victoria and now lives in WA. She is married to Martin, puppy mummy to Lucy and aunt to Giselle and Felix.
Goals
Dream
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Current Affiliations:
Past Affiliations:
Thanks to a school raffle win Martin and I experienced an amazing Red Balloon Experience flight over to Rottnest Island (known to locals as Rotto) recently.
The staff at Jandalot Flight Centre were awesome. After an exploratory visit the weekend before to suss out access, we turned up bright and early to be greeted by the news the office was under construction. No problem- another front entrance led us out to the tarmac to check the suitability of a different plane which promised more space in the back for our 2 wheelchairs and hence looked a tad comfier than the expected scenario of one person in the back nursing a few wheels. Yes!
The 4 seater meant we now had a pilot and co-pilot (building up his hours) and was far nicer to be able to sit together and enjoy the trip over in style. No need for earplugs- though they (and a sick bag) were on hand if required. And the pre-flight safety check was handled well- even if one point of take off had us wondering if the door was ever going to be closed and the pilot buckle his own seatbelt.
Embarking and disembarking the plane was relatively easy – if not quite elegant, We slid ourselves up the wing and across into the seats. Muggins got her bottom wet being first in and then husband was treated to a towel so his derrière didn’t suffer the same fate after he offered stacking suggestions for our wheelchairs!
What a spectacular view! Our photos often caught the plane wing but you get the gist of it I hope. Not a cap in sight. The different blues were astounding. The return journey offered sights of Perth skyline to paint another day too. And our tiny plane was so much quieter than the 12 seater plane once taken to King Island.
Any dreams of doing the Rotto swim one day were quelled when I saw the reality of the distance from mainland to island from the sky. 12kms doesn’t sound impossible to someone who once did 3.8 training sessions (back in the dark ages), and all those sharks (Colin…) that explore merrily up and down the coast- doesn’t worry me. They’d likely taste other swimmers before me…and if not- it is their territory anyway. So what decided it? The idea of salt water in goggles for such a long, long time. Horrid.
A smooth landing, complete with appropriate landing message from a wacky pilot acting as pseudo air-steward with aspirations of becoming a commercial pilot.Then a slight delay while the pilot arranged one of the accessible buses into the township from the airport, and we were off, for a good 4 hours of R&R.
The bus driver, like the pilots, was cheery and knowledgeable in what to see and do on the island. The quiet lift worked smoothly and our island holiday commenced knowing when to return to the sheltered bus stop later that day thus not rushing our relaxed day in order to push back to the airport. Excellent. Next time we’ll be sure to ring in advance and check the time table as it might have been required on the other side of the island. Serendipitous. With such advance warning the timetable can be adjusted to suit visitors’ needs.
Any trip to Rotto demands a trip to the bakery. Not only because the Duff clan knew the original baker very well, but because the cream cakes and donuts look (and taste) so scrumptious with a morning coffee.
Wander time. Had we been staying on the island we’d have experienced an afternoon play about the history of the island when used as an internment camp during WW1. Instead a visit to the museum revealed tales told and untold. Next visit we might also explore the movie night in a hall where Martin and his family once dealt with steps. It now offers a windy ramp with good side access.
Accessible loos are well located around the settlement. We didn’t venture too far this trip as our destination was the pub for a belated lunch looking out over the bay after admiring the view and Mr Percy’s pelican relatives along the way. And yes, my need for quokker sightings was well met too. Such friendly little critters. Not like rats at all despite the island’s Dutch name (Rat’s nest.) More like tiny inquisitive, and very sleepy, kangaroos. Why they sleep on their head with long tail outstretched for balance defies logic unless that is how they keep warm.
And so the day passed.
Welcome to the first post from Kerrie Duff Consulting. It seems fitting to enter the world of WordPress technology on Easter Sunday- a time of renewal, refreshment, family and friends, A time of growth and inclusion in our varied communities.
So who is Kerrie and what is her business all about?
Kerrie (pictured above right) grew up in Melbourne and moved to Perth in 2003. She recently graduated from Curtin University with her Masters in Human Rights and has a passion for disability, gender and indigenous issues. Before returning to study she worked at People With disabilities WA (PWdWA) as project officer for Disability First Stop, followed for a time as the senior systemic advocate.
In 2013 her Master in Human Rights internship with WA’s Individualised Services (WAiS) evolved into a part time communication’s coordinator role and her Cert IV TAE traineeship at Rocky Bay progressed into a casual role in the Training Department.
Over the years Kerrie has held various positions on boards and committees at local, national and international levels. Recently she undertook a training course through the Australian Institute of Company Director‘s thanks to a scholarship via the Leaders for Tomorrow program which she participated in during 2013.
Kerrie puts her International Training in Communication skills (once called Toastmistresses) to good use. She speaks at school, community and service groups on a range of advocacy issues and volunteers time participating in a disability awareness consumer groups with the Town of Melville and Cockburn.
She is an active consumer representative with the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research – recently renamed Telethon Kids Institute – and has given presentations to government and non government organisations in Victoria and WA. She held the role of President for Women with Disabilities WA in 2013 and was Vice President of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association WA during 2011-2013. Currently she serves on People with Disabilities WA’s Board as Vice President and as a general committee member of the Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) organisations.
Kerrie’s understanding of diversity began at an early age. She went through the local brownie, guide and ranger movement experienced special school and mainstream education.
Over the years her involvement in Paralympics (winning bronze for the 400mtrs freestyle in 1984), editing a text ‘Challenge and Hope: disability, disease and trauma in the developing world’ (looking at World Vision International (WVI) projects) have combined with her own varied life experiences to shape her ongoing ideas and beliefs.
She represented the Pacific region on the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Board for two terms between 2000-2004. She has been a guest speaker at World Vision International Asia Pacific community workers training workshops on disability and development issues. Kerrie speaks to community groups and school students on a range of issues, and has a strong sense of doing her best to empower others to reach their potential.
You will find Kerrie on Facebook, Linked in, Skill pages, the World Cafe and in a range of other media.
Conversations on Leadership with Ken Blanchard
Artfully Wild
Kerrie Duff Consulting 