Spinal cord foundation founder wins

Tracey Clarke founded Foundation97 three years ago to provide grants for those who want to participate in sport, recreational activities, job re-training or education.

She took the Volunteer Award at the Victorian Disability Awards 2016 on Wednesday night.

Mrs Clarke was also a finalist for the Emerging Leader Award, while Foundation97 was a finalist in the Cultural and Social Access Award.

She said it all came about after he husband Noel was injured his spine in a dirt bike accident. He is now in a wheelchair.

“Our lives changed dramatically when Noel was injured seven years ago. Before that we had been career-driven people,” Mrs Clarke said.

With no idea what they would do next, the couple noticed gaps in the amount of government assistance some people who were paraplegic or quadriplegic received.

“The majority of people who are paraplegic or quadriplegic, maybe 60 per cent, get minimal funding from government bodies – sometimes less than $2500 a year.

“They are people who have been injured in accidents that are not covered by groups like WorkSafe or the Transport Accident Commission.

“They may have been injured jumping into a pool, in their own backyard, or, as in Noel’s case, riding an unregisterable bike off-road.”

Mrs Clarke said the foundation would help those who could not get funding anywhere else.

Her husband said the foundation helped a wide variety of people, from teenagers who wanted sports wheelchairs to mature-age university students needing specialised equipment to complete their studies.

“There is life after these sorts of accidents. It’s all about getting out and getting active,” he said.

Mr Clarke said it was also important people who had not been injured, especially children, not hold back from life out of fear.

“What happened to me could happen to anyone, regardless of if they are on a bike, in a car crash or even just walking down the street,” he said.

Minister for disability Martin Foley congratulated Mrs Clarke and other award recipients.

“It’s exciting to see the commitment these winners and many others have to empowering people with a disability and creating an inclusive community,” he said.