Gerry reaches for the sky

More than 25 years ago, a brain tumour changed Gerry’s life, affecting his mobility and speech. But Gerry prefers to focus on what matters now - his routines, goals, and interests that shape his everyday life.

Gerry lives in an SDA apartment in Geelong, supported by Healthscope Independence Services, and much of his week is built around staying active and focussing on his nutrition. Four times a week, you’ll find him at the gym following a regular program that includes strength work and an upper-body bike. His goal is simple: “My goal is to walk… I want to get stronger.” Over time, his stamina has grown and now completes two hour sessions. His support worker, Vinny says “He’s well known and popular at the gym and he has even encouraged one of his support workers to start training too”.

Once a week, Gerry attends water-based rehabilitation, including water aerobics, stretching and movement work. He finds the water calming saying it helps him sleep better. He also takes part in adaptive surfing events and describes being in the ocean as a sense of release: “It’s me against mother nature.”

Food and routine are a big part of Gerry’s life. He plans his meals every fortnight with Vinny’s support, tries new recipes, and sticks to foods that work well for his body. “You put good food in your body then it’s going to work for you,” he says. He shops daily for fresh food and continues to cook most meals himself with assistance from his support workers.

Independence is important to him, and he manages as much as he can on his own. He’s clear about wanting to stay in control of his life: “Nothing is going to get in my way.”  That determination has shaped his life for years, including the time he set himself a major challenge to compete in the Asian Pacific sailing championship. He went on to win bronze and silver medals.

He also enjoys keeping his mind active. He watches game shows like The Chaser, saying they help keep his brain engaged, and he often answers most of the questions correctly.

Gerry sums up his approach to life simply: “My limit is the sky - you can’t touch the sky.”  And he continues to live by that - setting goals, staying active, and doing what he can each day to move forward.

As we recognise International Day of People with Disability, we want to thank our staff for the care they bring to their work, and our clients for the trust they place in us.

People like Gerry remind us why this work matters and how powerful it is when support and determination come together.