It’s been a genuinely busy couple of weeks, and I realized I haven’t recorded an update in a while. So, I’m using tonight—sitting quietly in a Melbourne hotel room—to finally catch up on everything that’s been happening.
The flight down to Melbourne was a really enjoyable one. I brought my mobility scooter with me, and the staff from Jetstar were absolutely wonderful and supportive regarding my mobility needs. That high level of care continued right through when we landed at Melbourne Airport, even though we had to disembark the plane using the stairs and a lift while it was pouring rain. The ground staff handled it seamlessly, making what could have been a tricky transition in the wet weather completely stress-free.
I can’t believe it’s been so long since I was last in Melbourne, but then COVID happened, and then I got sick. The last time I was here prior to that was back in 2019 (aside from a quick overnight stay in February when my plane to Bangkok was delayed). It’s nice to be able to visit again, albeit briefly. However, the instant chill became apparent at the airport, when I pulled out a jacket while still on the plane!
Despite the weather, I managed to have a nice lunch and then a coffee at St Kilda before heading back to my room. Even though I could have headed out tonight, I felt much more inclined to stay in the hotel room and take it easy. I arrived this afternoon, checked into the hotel, and I’m presenting a paper tomorrow before flying straight back home. Apologies to friends in Melbourne that I haven’t managed to reach out to this time; the turnaround is simply too fast.
The paper I’m presenting tomorrow looks back at a fascinating period: when Gay and Lesbian choir participation in ithe national choral championships coincided with homophobic editorials in the local papers, Mardi Gras floats, and many other things that happned in Wagga in the 1990s. It’s a rich topic, and I’m feeling well-prepared and genuinely looking forward to presenting it.
Outside of conference prep, a lot has happened over the past fortnight.
The absolute highlight on Friday was getting my new waterproof prosthetic—a “wet leg” designed for the shower, swimming pool, and beach. Previously, showering meant using an older leg and mostly sitting on a stool, and going to the pool meant taking my prosthetic off and crawling across the floor on my bum just to get in the water. Having this new leg means I can actually stand up in the shower when I feel like it, and walk right into the hydrotherapy pool. It sounds simple, but the extra flexibility and independence feel incredible.
I also attended the New South Wales Australian of the Year Awards—an event I’ve gone to for 10 or 15 years now. I never tire of it because the stories are always so humbling, focusing less on personal achievement and more on profound contributions to others. It was extra special this year to see Dwayne Fernandes, whom I interviewed for the Limb Shift podcast, recognized as a nominee. Catching up with him and sharing a warm, genuine embrace was a wonderful moment.
Speaking of The Limb Shift, recording has been keeping me busy. I recently talked with two members of the Wheelaroos—Australia’s wheelchair rugby league team, Adam Tannock and Toby Popple. Both are amputees, hailing from Townsville and Wagga Wagga respectively. I also interviewed Sonia Lee, a remarkable woman who lost her leg to an infection very similar to my own circumstances, and who has gone on to achieve brilliant things in sports like archery.
And now, here I am on a Saturday night, winding down in Melbourne. I spent a fair bit of the night watching coverage of the New Zealand election because…. well because I’m that kind of guy.
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks, but looking back over it all, life is full of good things. Time to rest up for tomorrow.
