Thank you so much for your warm welcome to me this morning. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to be here with you sharing your 50th Anniversary.

 to have the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate your extraordinary contribution to our community

to say thank you for what you do, for what you stand for.

It’s a lovely feeling for me to be back here to feel the generous spirit the warmth of friendship. 

I learnt about so many important things during my involvement here, things that have stood me in great stead in recent times.

I want to say to you again how much I admire and respect your specialist knowledge and experience over many years with spinal cord injury

your ability to influence government, educate and raise awareness about spinal cord injury, the realities, the preventive measures

bringing sufferers and their challenges into ordinary consciousness of our community and our leaders.

Your fundraising efforts in introducing medical access; in promoting recognition, protection and advocacy of rights

All underpinned by service support and goodwill, and a capacity to respond to diverse and individual needs.

One of your most far reaching and significant projects has been the Spinal Education Awareness Team.

As we all know its strength and value lies in the skilful approach of volunteers, themselves suffering from spinal cord injury seeking to crack the sense of invincibility so commonly felt by young people cheerfully embarking on their futures,

while at the same time tapping in to the trust, hope and buoyancy that underlies it.

Educating young people about potentially dangerous attitudes and behaviours without crushing their spirit.

I remember with great affection observing the SEAT team at work, talking to boys at BBC who listened intently.  I am sure they will never forget what they heard.

I am enourmously impressed by the latest figures from SEAT 110,000 students in 12 months, the most ever. 16 presenters who all have spinal cord injury and are helping to keep kids safe by sharing personal messages.

I salute them

As I do all the remarkable staff and volunteers of SIA your dedication and commitment

the ambassadors

the member Networks

the Post Polio Support Group

I congratulate you David and Mark on the leadership that you provide to the organisation and to the Australian Community,

to the promotion and protection of the finest human rights principles

to translating them into action

Happy Anniversary and every best wish in your important work.