Greater than 150 Kellion Victory Medals have been awarded in 2025 to Australians dwelling with diabetes throughout seven ceremonies in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland.
This 12 months’s awards recognised recipients proper throughout Australia, with occasions held in seven capital cities together with the nation’s capital.
Awarded yearly, the Kellion Victory Medal recognises and celebrates power, resilience, and self-management, and honours the extraordinary dedication of individuals dwelling with diabetes.
A key theme amongst recipients was the impression of modifications and enhancements in expertise, overcoming early adversity, and their achievements to reside a full life dwelling with diabetes.
Many medallists spoke about early administration practices involving glass syringes, house testing kits that relied on take a look at tubes, and sharpening needles at house, reflecting on how far diabetes administration has come.
They additionally spoke about how their household and supporters have been key to their longevity, thanking the household, carers, associates and supporters who’ve contributed to their diabetes journey.
On the Brisbane ceremony, 80-year Medal recipient William Buston mirrored on how a lot care and remedy has modified, and the impression that household and associates have had over time.
Recognized after his first birthday within the mid-Nineteen Forties, William mirrored on the challenges of balancing eating regimen, train, and insulin with out the expertise we take with no consideration at this time.
Because of decided mother and father, who struggled to search out the meals advisable on the time, and later supported by his spouse, he graduated with levels in medication and surgical procedure from the College of Queensland.
William went on to practise medication, later qualifying in occupational well being and security, for greater than 40 years.
In Sydney, 50-year Medallist Vivian Stanners was a newly arrived English migrant when she was identified, crediting in-laws being shut by for being very useful.
Early administration revolved round a day by day injection, sterilising glass syringes in boiling water with the assistance of a chip basket, and yellow paper tape degree monitoring.
Help has been vital to Vivian, along with her husband Neil being by her facet and ensuring they didn’t miss out on what life has to supply.
Australian Kellion Victory Medal Ambassador, Gordon Bunyan, who acquired his 50 12 months Kellion Medal in Melbourne this 12 months, mentioned the tales shared by all of the medal recipients had been inspiring and recognise that, though their lengthy lives demonstrated it was doable to reside “a traditional life”, it was not with out lots of laborious work.
“Residing an extended and full life with diabetes is one thing to be celebrated. Every Kellion Victory Medal recipient has a novel story to inform, and every of these tales is an inspiration to the neighborhood.”
Among the many tales shared, many informed us the distinction that Stan Clark made by inventing the primary house glucometer. Stan’s daughter Lisa has lived with diabetes for 53 years and was one among 15 Diabetes Australia neighborhood advocates attending Kellion Victory Medal occasions. In reminiscence of her father, Lisa has revealed a e book detailing her father’s pursuit of innovation via the first house blood glucose monitor. It’s the final instance of co-designed analysis and innovation that developed over time to satisfy the wants of individuals dwelling with diabetes together with underrepresented teams.
Named in reminiscence of John Kellion, who handed away attributable to problems from kind 1 diabetes, the Kellion Diabetes Analysis Basis was established by his father Claude Kellion in 1974 , with a donation of extra than $1 million for diabetes analysis and training.
The Kellion Victory Medal was established in 1984 by Diabetes Australia. The concept was proposed and developed by the late Dr Alan Shares, a famend endocrinologist dwelling with kind 1 diabetes, who additionally acquired 50 and 60-year Medals.
