This Nationwide Diabetes Week (July 13 to 19) Australians who’ve lived with sort 1 diabetes for 50 years or extra have been recognised with Kellion Victory Medals at a particular ceremony at Perth’s 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 as a consequence 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.
Quite a lot of Kellion displays have been held all through Nationwide Diabetes Week.
Amongst this 12 months’s recipients is Colleen Ashby, 60, from Perth’s Kalamunda Hills, whose inspiring journey with sort 1 diabetes spans 5 many years. 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 instructed in The Sunday West Australian by main columnist Glen Quartermain to spotlight the Kellion displays.
Regardless of dwelling with advanced well being challenges, together with coronary heart illness and imaginative and prescient loss, Colleen has remained energetic and passionate. A former ballroom dance instructor 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 listing 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 day by day insulin injections to handle her diabetes.
She is the creator of two books, I Can See Clearly Now and You Acquired to Snigger.
Colleen says dwelling with diabetes has taught her persistence and flexibility.
“Diabetes has been a part of my life since I used to be a toddler however it has by no means stopped me from reaching.
“There have been instances I used to be instructed I couldn’t do one thing due to accidents or previous surgical procedures however I’ve all the time believed that your skills matter greater than your limitations.
“After the transplant and dropping my sight, I knew I couldn’t train dance anymore however with my 5% peripheral imaginative and prescient I knew I may observe a black line in a pool. I realized to swim competitively and located new methods to stay totally.
“Receiving the Kellion Medal means rather a lot to me. It’s recognition of not simply dwelling with diabetes however of dwelling nicely and never giving in.”
On the occasion, Diabetes Australia may even announce 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 12 months.
As Kellion Ambassador, he’ll signify 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 stated the Kellion Victory Medals are a strong reminder of what’s doable with early prognosis, entry to care, and powerful neighborhood assist.
“These medal recipients have lived with sort 1 diabetes for greater than half a century,” Mr Bunyan stated. “Their 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.
“Claude wished individuals dwelling with diabetes to have entry to one of the best schooling concerning the situation so they might stay lengthy and wholesome lives,” Mr Bunyan stated.
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, customers, well being professionals, state-based diabetes organisations, researchers and the neighborhood.
For extra data go to: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au
