Gold Coast trio inspire students to stay safe

Three young Gold Coast men who had never met until recently, have something in common – they all sustained a spinal cord injury in the Gold Coast region within a year. The trio – James Sprenger, Jay Hooker and Marty Hume – have all gone on to join the Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT), a group dedicated to preventing devastating spinal cord injuries by sharing their experiences with primary and secondary students throughout Queensland.

Last year, Jay and Marty met in the Spinal Unit at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital after sustaining spinal cord injuries in separate incidents a few months apart.

Astonishingly, the young men also live just several blocks apart from each other at Elanora.

Both are keen to speak to as many students as possible about the importance of safe behaviour.

Currently studying a Bachelor of Business at Southern Cross University, Jay, 21, was tobogganing down a sand dune at North Stradbroke Island when he sustained his injury.

“Having this type of injury forces you to change all of your future plans,” Jay said.

“I’m determined to do well in my degree so that I can find a good job in the future.

“And I’m also dedicated to preventing spinal cord injuries because I know better than anyone the huge effect it has on every aspect of your life.”

Marty Hume

Just days after finishing Year 12 at a Tweed Heads high school in 2007, Marty was wakeboarding with friends on the Tweed River at Chinderah when a fall led to him sustaining a spinal cord injury.

As well as his role with SEAT, Marty, 19, is also training regularly at the gym and plans to resume a Bachelor of Property and Sustainable Development at Bond University in the future.

“I never had exposure to anything like SEAT while I was at school and I think it’s important for students to hear from young guys like us that these things can happen,” Marty said.

“Hopefully we can stop it from happening to others in the future.”

Two years ago, James, from Pimpama, was enjoying a buck’s night at South Stradbroke Island when he dived into shallow water and sustained quadriplegia.

A former trainee golf professional, James, 25, can no longer pick up a golf club, but he has returned to coaching other keen golfers.

“I tell the students that you can’t live in bubble wrap your whole life, but you just need to use some common sense in all situations to prevent this type of injury from happening,” James said.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said the young Gold Coast men should be applauded for their willingness to give up their time to help educate school students.

“We would like to encourage schools on the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales to book a SEAT visit so that Marty, Jay and James can share their experiences and fulfill their goals to help keep young people safe.”

As a service of the Spinal Injuries Association, SEAT has been operating in Queensland for the past 22 years, with more than 1.2 million children viewing the program in that time.

This year, the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; the Department of Main Roads, Disability Services Queensland, Queensland Transport, BHP Billiton Cannington Mine and the Motor Accident and Insurance Commission are proud sponsors of SEAT.

For more information phone 3391 2044 or email seat@spinal.com.au.

Issued 25 March.