3 months into my 5 month assignment I fell 4 stories from a building onto a concrete roof.

My injuries included a head injury, broken ribs, broken leg & 2 collapsed lungs.

I was transferred the same day to Singapore. When my condition was stable enough, 2 weeks later, I was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

I was in a coma for a couple of months.

In Royal Adelaide Hospital for 2 months (during this time transferred to Julia Farr.
Only there for 1 night then back to Royal Adelaide when they discovered I had pneumonia).

I spent 10 months in Julia Farr. Slowly learned how to stand again and how to walk
Determined to walk out of Julia Farr, I could only take about 10 steps but I did it!

I did not speak for about 6 months – but once I started could not be stopped!!! I was encouraged to speak by Steve, who was the woodwork teacher at Julia Farr. Steve had a motorbike accident some years ago and is now confined to a wheelchair. He was a great motivator and always tried new ways of doing things.

He thought of the idea of using a tilt-table in woodwork. I walked around using a frame. Stood and sanded.

I was fed through a tube for 7 months. Again encouraged to eat by Steve. First thing I ate was an after dinner mint (melts in the mouth). My parents stacked the fridge with boxes of after dinner mints.

My accident happened on 1st May 1998 and I was discharged from Julia Farr on 30th April 1999.

After leaving Julia Farr I attended Payneham Rehabilitation day care for 6 months. I did physiotherapy, gym work, speech therapy and occupational therapy there.

The things that helped me through:
• support of family and friends
• my sense of humour
• my determination

I never lost my love of music – I had CD player in my room and always had music playing. One of my friends encouraged me by saying that I will get back to DJing in nightclubs. Now I DJ regularly in nightclubs (this is what I was doing before my accident & it’s wonderful that I am able to return to it).

I no longer drink alcohol. I have no idea how it will effect me. Anyway I’ve got better things to spend my money on such as records. Because a DJ can never have enough!

I go to the gym often. I need to be fit because I live such a hectic life. One of my favourite past times is going on long walks.

Before my accident I was a very keen cyclist. I used to go cycling on weekends with friends. I have not returned to it because I find it hard to maintain my balance and monitor traffic at the same time.

I still go to physio and speech therapy to maintain my recovery.

I have not returned to my degree. I feel that it’s a shame to have lost this after all of my study. But I don’t dwell on this. I’ve got new goals.

I have tried returning to study by trying sound engineering in 2001. I got six months through the course but I began finding the study difficult.

I do have a short term memory problem. Which I overcome using a note pad and a diary. I carry these with me. My long term memory is excellent. My mental stamina is not great. I need to pace myself.

So many people have helped me along the way during my recovery. It seemed like a natural progression for me to now help others. I now volunteer at the art class at Julia Farr / Disability SA. I have been here November 2005.

I started going to Broughton Art when I left Julia Farr. Here I attend a pottery and mosaic class once a week. I have been doing this for the past seven years.

I also do various short art classes in art at WEA and Adelaide School of Art.

I was involved with an Arts Access’s project Reins, Rope and Red Tape. This helped provide skills development so that young people are empowered to ‘take the reins’, ‘learn the ropes’ and ‘negotiate the red tape’ regarding issues of importance to them.

With Arts Access last year I was involved in a hip hop workshop teaching a group of disabled people at Bedford DJing. I taught one on one using a DJ set of CD players which you can adjust the pitch.

Also with Arts Access, I am involved in presenting and using the studio panel on a radio show about disabled arts. I’m now a trained radio presenter and studio operator. This is an area which I love working in and is something which I wish to continue. The show is Radio Cool on Radio Adelaide, 101.5fm, Sundays 1 to 2pm.

In 2005 I started working at art classes at Julia Farr.

I don’t dwell on what I’ve lost. I now have new dreams and a new reality. Life’s too short to be miserable. I’m going to have as much fun as possible while I’m here!