Skydiving Scott to star at free community event

Scott Stidston has never let anything get in his way – not even a spinal cord injury.

This Sunday, 7 November, Scott will take to the skies with his wife Lisa and skydive, courtesy of Skydive Townsville.

Scott is then taking part in the third annual “Graduate School of Motoring” Cruise for a Cause event to highlight Spinal Injuries Awareness Week (7-13 November).

After sustaining quadriplegia in a motorbike accident 24 years ago, Scott has worked hard to continue living as independently as possible, with plenty of support and assistance from Lisa. The pair have been married since 1989 and this skydive will be a celebration of their lives together.

“Life doesn’t end when you have a spinal cord injury, but it certainly gets a lot more difficult,” Scott said.

“I owe my whole life and lifestyle to Lisa’s ongoing support. We have always dreamed of skydiving together and this Sunday’s skydive, which has been generously donated by Skydive Townsville, is the realisation of that dream.”

Scott said while skydiving could be seen as a risky activity, it was a measured risk because the instructors were experts with many hundreds of hours of experience.

“By taking the appropriate precautions you can make it as safe as possible,” he said.

“When you think about it, driving is a potentially risky activity but by taking the appropriate precautions, it is a whole lot safer.”

Scott’s skydive will follow the ‘cruising’ aspect of the event, which will involve 100+ motoring enthusiasts meeting at Willows Shoppingtown at 9am and proceeding to Strand Park, where they will display their vehicles until 2pm. At 1pm, winners will also be announced in the following categories:

1. Best Car – (sponsored by Roberts Nehmer McKee)

2. Best Ute – (sponsored by RACQ)

3. Best Hot Rod – (sponsored by Slater & Gordon)

4. Best Bike – (sponsored by RoadTek)

5. People’s Choice – (sponsored by Tony Ireland)

6. Judge’s Choice (sponsored by Graduate School of Motoring)

7. Best Youth Entry – under 21(sponsored by Bob Parkes Muffler City)

8. Best Engine Bay (sponsored by Aitkenvale Auto and Dyno)

Spinal Injuries Association North Queensland Manager Cathy Lengyel said the “Graduate School of Motoring” Cruise for a Cause would highlight the fact that road trauma is the number one cause of all spinal cord injuries.

And each year, around 90 Queenslanders sustain spinal injuries – a terrible average of one person every four days.

Issued 3 November.