May 2005

Paralympian inspiration to all

A paralympian who works with amputees and young people in the juvenile justice system has received an outstanding achievement award.

Heather Thomas from the Caulfield General Medical Centre nominated Don Elgin for a Tattersall’s Enterprise and Achievement award because ‘he is an inspiration for all who meet him, including our amputee patients undergoing rehabilitation.’

Despite being born without the lower half of one leg and requiring open-heart surgery shortly thereafter, Don describes himself as ‘pretty fortunate’ to be born into a sporting family in Tocumwal, NSW.

As a youngster, Don hopped most of the time because crutches were just ‘too slow’.

‘Mum and Dad didn’t see me as disabled,’ Don said.

‘I was just one of the kids to them.

‘They never even got a disabled parking permit!

‘It’s different now because the perception of disability has changed in a big way since I was young.

‘As a kid, I was doing really well against able-bodied swimmers but I got my butt kicked in my first disabled competition.

‘The standard was actually higher and it provided me with the challenge I needed,’ Don said.

Don’s personal best is a 100 metre sprint in 12.2 seconds.

He takes part in elite athletic competitions all over the world and returned from the 2004 Athens Paralympics with one silver and two bronze medals.

His specialty is the pentathlon, for which he has five different prosthetic limbs, one for each event.

Ms Thomas said in his work with Caulfield General Medical Centre amputees Don simply tried to make a difference.

‘It’s important to see someone in the same position who says, ‘it’s not the end of the world’.

‘Most people with disabilities have figured out that we’re still here and we still have opportunities.

‘I remember seeing an armless Chinese athlete eating with his feet, using chopsticks!

‘You do what you have to do to survive.’

Don started out as a postie and is now Philatelic Communications Manager at Australia Post.

He has two daughters, a photograph of whom adorns his prosthetic leg.

In his role as Whitelion Role Model, Don has visited young people in Melbourne Juvenile Justice Centre and Parkville Youth Residential Centre, run inspirational workshops with children and young people in schools in highly-disadvantaged areas of Victoria and Tasmania and even hosted events.

Whitelion gives young people in the Child Protection and Juvenile Justice systems the opportunity to re-engage with the community through positive role modelling, mentoring and employment and the opportunity to build positive lives for themselves as part of the community.

‘Don provides these highly marginalised young people with an amazing example of overcoming barriers and achieving your dreams in difficult circumstances,’ said Whitelion Chief Executive Officer Mark Watt.

‘He is, in fact, an inspiration to us all and a pleasure to work with.’