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Australian Story

Season 2 1997

  • 1997-07-12T09:30:00Z on ABC
  • 30m
  • 30m (1 episode)
  • Australia
  • English
  • Documentary, News
Australian Story is a weekly biography program, produced and broadcast on ABC Television. Australian Story has covered many people from diverse backgrounds and reputations. The stories are 'narrated' by the profile subjects and those who know them best. The program aims to present a varied and contrasting picture of contemporary Australia and Australians, both known and unknown.

1 episode

1997-07-12T09:30:00Z

2x22 A Will Of Their Own

2x22 A Will Of Their Own

  • 1997-07-12T09:30:00Z30m

Film maker and author Pamela Traynor introduces the story of two amazing and indomitable young Australians, Allana Arnot and Mark Bagshaw.

Pamela discovered their stories when her young daughter Jessica was knocked down by a car at a pedestrian crossing and seriously hurt. The accident set Pamela off on a mission to try to discover the crucial factors which enable some individuals to overcome extraordinary trauma and still lead fulfilling lives in circumstances which would crush most of us. She hoped to find clues which would help her daughter’s recovery.

She met Allana and Mark in the course of her search and was immediately struck by the power of their experiences and the strength of their characters.

Allana was left with paraplegia after a horrific light plane crash in her early twenties. She had to battle fear of flying and severe physical handicaps but has gone on to gain her commercial chopper pilot’s license. She is now in the middle of a solo flight around Australia.

A diving accident at the age of sixteen left Mark Bashaw with complete quadriplegia. That means he is paralysed from the neck down with only a little limited movement in his arms. Despite incredible physical limitations Mark has managed a marriage, a highly successful business career and at the age of forty, is IBM’s international marketing manager for Australia and New Zealand. He went for the job without disclosing his handicap.

These are stories to rival the saga of Janice Shepherd as recounted in her best selling books “Never Tell Me Never” and “Dare to Fly”.

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