Considerate council helps spread safety message

After breaking his neck in a rugby game 32 years ago, Robert Spencer is on a crusade to educate as many children as possible about spinal cord injury, including 520 Sunshine Beach State School children later this week, through his voluntary work as a presenter with the Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT).The Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) was so impressed with the program they generously donated $3,600 to SEAT earlier this year.

This funding will see Robert and other SEAT presenters visit 3,600 children at various Sunshine Coast schools in 2008, at no cost.

Today (JUNE 18), councillor Russell Green will help Robert launch the first of the council-sponsored SEAT visits at Sunshine Beach State School.

SEAT began 21 years ago and in that time, has enthralled more than 1.2 million children with its staying safe and injury prevention message.

This year the 14 SEAT presenters around Queensland aim to visit 80,000 children, with 32,000 already inspired by the program.

“Getting around and meeting different people, seeing the reaction of the students who often ask confronting questions out of left field. That’s what I enjoy about being a SEAT presenter,” Robert said.

“It’s a sad fact of life that spinal injuries happen mainly to young people aged 15 to 30, so for me, it’s worthwhile doing this as a volunteer, if your talk can save even just one student.”

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley extended his thanks to the SCRC and promised presentations which were both emotional and educational.

“It’s a disturbing reality, but 90 people a year incur a spinal cord injury – that’s approximately one person every four days,” he said.

“Coinciding the success of SEAT, the rate of spinal cord injury in Queensland has steadily declined. We have gone from having the highest rate in the country, to having the second lowest number of people incurring a spinal cord injury.

“This just reiterates the necessity of the SEAT program.”

SEAT is already booked in to see 2,100 Sunshine Coast children as part of the SCRC visits. Other schools on the Coast interested in having a presenter visit your school should phone the Association on (07) 3391 2044.

Issued 16 June 2008.