This Nationwide Diabetes Week (July 13 to 19) Australians who’ve lived with sort 1 diabetes for 50 years or extra had been recognised with Kellion Victory Medals at a particular ceremony at Perthโs Authorities Home.
The Kellion Victory Medals are a celebration of power, resilience and lifelong self-management. They honour the extraordinary dedication of individuals dwelling with diabetes and are named in reminiscence of John Kellion, who died at age 38 on account of problems from sort 1 diabetes. His father, Claude Kellion, established the Kellion Diabetes Basis, which has contributed greater than $1 million to diabetes analysis and schooling.
Various Kellion shows have been held all through Nationwide Diabetes Week.
Amongst this yrโs recipients is Colleen Ashby, 60, from Perthโs Kalamunda Hills, whose inspiring journey with sort 1 diabetes spans 5 a long time. Recognized at simply 9 years previous at Princess Margaret Hospital in 1974, Colleen has refused to let diabetes outline or restrict her life.
Her story has been informed in The Sunday West Australian by main columnist Glen Quartermain to spotlight the Kellion shows.
Regardless of dwelling with complicated well being challenges, together with coronary heart illness and imaginative and prescient loss, Colleen has remained lively and passionate. A former ballroom dance trainer and Zumba teacher, she additionally ran the favored GumNut Cloggers group for a few years. In 2017, after years of being denied entry to the transplant record due to her diabetes, Colleen acquired a life-saving coronary heart transplant. Issues from the surgical procedure led to her turning into legally blind.
Undeterred, Colleen went on to compete on the 2023 World Transplant Video games in Perth, profitable gold, silver and bronze medals in freestyle and backstroke swimming occasions. She makes use of a steady glucose monitor and 5 each day insulin injections to handle her diabetes.
She is the creator of two books, I Can See Clearly Now and You Obtained to Chuckle.
Colleen says dwelling with diabetes has taught her persistence and flexibility.
โDiabetes has been a part of my life since I used to be a toddler however it has by no means stopped me from attaining.
โThere have been occasions I used to be informed I couldn’t do one thing due to accidents or previous surgical procedures however I’ve all the time believed that your talents matter greater than your limitations.
โAfter the transplant and shedding my sight, I knew I couldnโt train dance anymore however with my 5% peripheral imaginative and prescient I knew I might observe a black line in a pool. I realized to swim competitively and located new methods to reside absolutely.
โReceiving the Kellion Medal means so much to me. Itโs recognition of not simply dwelling with diabetes however of dwelling effectively and never giving in.โ
On the occasion, Diabetes Australia additionally introduced Gordon Bunyan because the inaugural Australian Kellion Victory Medal Ambassador. Gordon, who has lived with sort 1 diabetes for 50 years, is a revered lawyer, long-time Diabetes Australia Board member and diabetes advocate, and aggressive sports activities automobile driver. He has served because the chairperson of the Worldwide Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Area (IDF WPR) Council, in addition to IDF vp. He’s the co-chair of the IDF WPR Congress 2026 Organising Committee, with the Congress to be held in Melbourne subsequent yr. ย ย ย
As Kellion Ambassador, he represents the voices of people that know the challenges of dwelling with sort 1 diabetes long-term and spotlight the significance of improved care, analysis and assist.
Mr Bunyan mentioned the Kellion Victory Medals are a robust reminder of what’s attainable with early analysis, entry to care, and robust neighborhood assist.
โThese medal recipients have lived with sort 1 diabetes for greater than half a century,โ Mr Bunyan mentioned. โTheir tales are a testomony to resilience, innovation in care, and the significance of analysis and schooling. These are values Claude Kellion upheld when he established the inspiration in reminiscence of his son.
โClaude needed individuals dwelling with diabetes to have entry to one of the best schooling in regards to the situation so they may reside lengthy and wholesome lives,โ Mr Bunyan mentioned.
About Diabetes Australia
Diabetes Australia is the nationwide organisation supporting all individuals dwelling with or susceptible to diabetes. We put individuals first. We work in collaboration with member organisations, shoppers, well being professionals, state-based diabetes organisations, researchers and the neighborhood.
For extra data go to: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au
