Rebuilding Lives, Empowering People and Preventing Injuries

2010 Christmas Cards. Long-time Association members, Tom Mullen and Victor Clulow, return as our featured Christmas Card artists. Tom and Victor have produced two new versions for this festive season and these cards are on sale now. You can purchase on-line, or by calling the Fundraising Coordinator on 3391 2044, or email merchandise@spinal.com.au.

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Spinal Injuries Association Peer Support Officer Katie Franz shares her thoughts on Channel 10 News about the state government’s recent announcement that there would be changes to learner driver tests, which would allow learners to speed five times, and up to five km/h over the limit in, a 30-minute driving test. View the two-minute video here.

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THEY’RE a tough audience. Anyone who has ever fronted a room full of teenagers knows that they often bring with them a take-no-prisoners approach.

Over the past eight years I’ve learnt that if you want teenagers to listen to you then you’d better be laugh-out-loud funny or have a powerful, personal message that shocks the hell out of them.

And when it comes to the latter, I don’t think anyone is doing it better than SEAT, the Spinal Education Awareness Team presenters.

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Rarely would a pedestrian crossing make news but for one Queensland community, it will change their lives.

The Spinal Injuries Association welcomes the completion of work and the opening of the first ever pedestrian crossing in the township of Home Hill where Highway 1 passes through the main street.

The majority of Home Hill residents, which includes members of the Association, live on the east side of the town. They naturally wanted to access the buildings and services on the west side of the main street, many of which are ‘exclusive’ because they are not available on the east side of the street.

Property owners and business tenants in Home Hill on the west side of the main street pay similar outlays as those on the east side. However, given the bulk of the residents live on the east side, the lack of a safe, convenient pedestrian crossing meant property owners and tenants were denied equal opportunity to markets, sales and profits.

As a result of advocacy by residents and Association members, Helen Basse and Scott Stidston, the Department of Transport and Main Roads has lived up to its slogan of ‘Connecting Queensland’ with the design and construction of a controlled pedestrian crossing that meets the needs of all of the community.

Association Board member Scott Stidston jointly activated and opened the crossing today with Minister for Main Roads, the Hon. Craig Wallace MP.

“This initiative will maximise the social and economic performance of the region,” said Mr Stidston.

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Two budget initiatives announced this week have been met with approval by the Spinal Injuries Association, the peak body for people with spinal cord injuries in Queensland.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said two announcements in the State Budget delivered by Treasurer Andrew Fraser would have significant benefits for Queenslanders with spinal cord injuries.

“The $3.2 million expansion of the Spinal Cord Injuries Response (SCIR) initiative is a tremendous outcome for people living with quadriplegia or paraplegia sustained through trauma or disease,” Mr Henley said.

“SCIR provides health, disability and personal support for people once they leave the Spinal Injuries Unit. This additional funding will improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries in Queensland. It is a great decision.”

Mr Henley said the State Government’s announcement of the Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme would also be welcome news to Queenslanders who have medical conditions, including people with spinal cord injuries, who require temperature control.

“Some of our members experience major health issues as they have a physical intolerance to heat. They lose the ability to regulate their body temperature, which can result in life-threatening medical complications. This Scheme will make a difference to these members’ power bills and provide some relief.

“While there is still a long way to go before people with spinal cord injuries in Queensland have all of their support needs met, these two announcements by the Queensland Government are a very positive step forward. We look forward to continuing to work productively with the State Government and particularly the Disability Services Minister and her department to improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injury in Queensland.”

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A 13.29 percent electricity price hike announced last week by the Queensland Competition Authority will result in significant financial hardship and risk the lives of some people with spinal cord injuries.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said that people who require air conditioners due to their physical intolerance to heat and cold may risk not using them given the increased electricity costs they will incur.

“We have been asking the State Government for some time to introduce a Medical Cooling Electricity Rebate, which some other states already have introduced, ” Mr Henley said.

“Some of our members (those who have high-level paraplegia or quadriplegia) experience major health issues as they have a physical intolerance to heat. They lose the ability to regulate their body temperature, which can result in life threatening medical complications.

“It is imperative that they live in an environment where they can control their temperature so air conditioners are not a luxury, but essential items for their health and well-being. If they can’t afford to use them, they are at serious risk.

“We have said before that because of the current electricity costs, there is an urgent need to cover the costs of operating air conditioners through such a rebate.

“This has now become even more dire following today’s announcement.”

Mr Henley called on the Queensland Government to urgently introduce concessions or rebates for people who are unable to regulate their body temperatures.

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In memory of a Spinal Injuries Association member who passed away in August 2009, Robert Towns Lions Club is supporting the organisation in order to make a difference to the quality of life for other North Queenslanders who have that level of injury.

On Wednesday, 19 May the hardworking community group presented the Spinal Injuries Association with $2,000 to purchase wheelchair cushions for the organisation’s Equipment Hire service.

Robert Towns Lions Club President Ed Brown said the group wanted to assist the Association because a former member of the organisation, Alan Pierce, passed away last year.

“We supported Alan with various equipment and things in the past, and he often spoke of how the Association was there for him, so we wanted to give something back,” Ed said.

“We like to support local charities and we’re pleased these cushions will make an enormous difference to the people who use them.”

Spinal Injuries Association North Queensland Manager Cathy Lengyel said the pressure-relieving cushions would be added to the organisation’s Equipment Hire service at their Cranbrook office.

“The service is available to people who have a disability or anyone in the community who requires equipment for short or long-term hire,” Ms Lengyel said.

“These cushions are vital for people who use wheelchairs for 12+ hours a day and who are at risk of skin breakdown and pressure sores. A lesion or pressure sore can result in days or weeks in bed recovering, which is of course a huge inconvenience for people who are trying to live independently.”

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For almost two years Brisbane’s Suzanne Mulligan did not go into her kitchen or cook a single dish.

Not because she’s averse to cooking and creating dishes – quite the opposite.

Suzanne had begun to experience a gradual loss of mobility in her lower body from around July 2008, when she noticed a strange sensation in her legs while jogging.

Within two months Suzanne had to use a wheelchair. After months of tests both locally and interstate, doctors finally discovered after several Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) that Suzanne had sustained spinal cord damage at the T4 level (from the waist down).

In what doctors continue to call a “medical mystery” no-one can say how Suzanne sustained this damage.

“There was no event or trauma involved, the injury has happened without my knowing,” Suzanne said.

“The past few years have been hugely challenging as I’ve had to learn to accept that I can no longer walk and what this means in terms of losing aspects of my independence, and re-learning things that used to come so naturally.”

Suzanne said even simple tasks that most people took for granted such as putting on shoes and socks or showering could become monumental challenges.

“Cooking became something that I thought I could no longer do,” she said.

“And because I’d been an enthusiastic cook and would always experiment with different recipes, it was really difficult to hand over the cooking reins to my husband Terry.

“He has been doing so well though and he’s actually learned a lot about cooking during this period.”

However, just last month Suzanne was inspired to ease her way back into her kitchen after a visit from Spinal Injuries Association Peer Support Officer Katie Franz.

Katie, who sustained paraplegia in a car accident 15 years ago, showed Suzanne how she cooks in her kitchen, by preparing food on a cutting board on her lap, and how she situates utensils and ingredients in easy-to-reach places on her kitchen bench.

“When you first sustain a spinal cord injury, it takes years to learn what your new capabilities are now that you use a wheelchair,” Katie said.

“Because I’ve been using a wheelchair for almost half of my life, I have the benefit of experience and can share that with clients like Suzanne, who are still adapting to the changes in their body and how to negotiate their environment.”

One of Suzanne’s first forays back into the kitchen was to bake cupcakes for a food photography competition she entered through her local camera club.

Suzanne’s photograph was awarded an Honour in the competition, which she said had further cemented her commitment to return to her love of cooking.

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