We’ve gone from an evening meal at a local pub or club, to a Sunday lunch, mainly so that folks don't have to travel at night because of the number of roos and deer on the roads in our area. We have had up to 23 attendees who’ve come from a 100km radius around Wodonga over the time that we've been meeting. One of the best things that I get to see at the meetings is when people come along for the first time and they’re a little bit quiet and withdrawn, but after introductions, a meal, a couple of drinks and lots of chatting to everyone, they go home much happier! Then when they turn up to the next one, I think to myself, "JOB DONE!"
My family is the most important part of my life. My wonderful wife, Deb, and I have 3 sons, 3 daughters-in-law and 7 grandkids. I call my grandkids my 'chill pills' because it doesn’t matter how bad the day is going, when they turn up it just makes everything better. I’m an amputee, so prosthetists are pretty important to me too!
Following a motorbike accident 6 years ago while on a 'Poker Run' charity ride in the Snowy Mountains near Cabramatta, I had my left leg below the knee, and my left little finger amputated. So I do know what it's like to experience amputation, but I also know that you can't give up on life just because of that.
I’ve had an interesting and varied work life. I’m a motor mechanic by trade and I did that for 25 years before running my own property maintenance business for 6 or 7 years. After that, I tried something completely new as a 'pilot car' driver, escorting oversized loads all around Australia for 10 years. I worked for Baxters Concrete in Wodonga, driving a concrete agitator until my accident in October 2019. I had a 12 month forced lay-off, before Baxters offered me a new job, organising maintenance on all of their trucks and equipment. I still do this today and I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity.
One of my passions is fishing, namely, fly fishing for trout. Fly fishing has taken me to New Zealand on a number of occasions, chasing their mighty brown and rainbow trout. One of the pics here shows my first 'fly caught' Murray cod, a bucket list thing for us fly fishers! Otherwise, I love nothing more than getting into my boat and trolling around the Hume Weir in the sunshine, absolutely 'de-stressing to the max!' I’m very happy to catch anything with fins, anywhere!
I also love clay target shooting and hunting. I started this journey 50 odd years ago when I was at Wodonga Tech school. Back then I could ride my bike to school with my shotgun either slung on my back or laying across the handle bars. Wow… try doing that now! I have competed in clay target shoots all around the country and met a lot of people that I now call my mates. I was really worried after my accident that I wouldn't be able to shoot again due to the recoil of the gun (due to other injuries, not my amputation). Just after I got out of hospital, I had to go and tried it and thankfully all was good… well not really good, but good enough! Hunting allows me to help rid the country of vermin like pigs, foxes and rabbits. It also allows me to fill the freezer with things like fresh rabbit, wild duck and deer, some of the best meat you can get!
I would encourage anybody who’s thinking about the Albury Wodonga Amputee Empowerment Group to join us for our next lunch. Everyone’s welcome and I guarantee that it’s a friendly and welcoming bunch, including Deb and me! See you there!
The Albury Wodonga Amputee Support Group meet for lunch at SS&A Club, Albury throughout the year. You can find more information and RSVP here.
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