Aussie medals for Beau and Jude
LEONGATHA Seniors football coach Beau Vernon and Phillip Island’s Jude Donahoo and seven other recipients were awarded Pride of Australia Medals last week.
In a moving ceremony before family and friends, Beau and Jude were recognised for their contribution to communities.
Beau was awarded for being such an inspiration after his accident in 2012 that left him a quadriplegic. He received the award for his determined fight back to become a club leader, mentor and motivational speaker.
He said, “There are lot of people worse off than me. I just wanted to live the best life I could.”
Commenting on Facebook, Beau said, “I was fortunate to be a recipient of a Pride of Australia medal. Even though I don’t feel deserved, I am very honoured and humbled to receive such a prestigious award.
“Thanks to my family and friends and particularly my wife Lucy. I think she should have won the award for being an absolute legend…nothing more Aussie spirited than throwing your husband over your shoulder and carrying him 50m down to the beach so he can have a swim. The other seven winners are amazing people doing great things.”
Jude Donahoo earned her medal after establishing the You Are My Sunshine Foundation to raise funds for research for neuroblastoma — the childhood cancer that claimed the life of her granddaughter, Newhaven College student Khalilla.
The charity has raised more than $1 million in seven years, becoming an official charity partner with The Australian Moto GP.
“I just see a little girl looking down at me wherever she might be … and her light continues to shine through this foundation,’’ Ms Donahoo said.
Victorian Pride of Australia award winners included CFA officer Paul Bannan, Michael Gallus, Jude Donahoo, Neale Daniher, Jonathan Tarascio, Kevin Costa, brother and sister Hayden and Stephanie Rujak, and Beau Vernon.
Aussies winners: Beau Vernon, Leongatha’s Senior football coach (front) and Phillip Island’s Jude Donohoo (fifth from left) are pictured with the other Pride of Australia Medals recipients following the presentation in Melbourne last week.
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Dec 20 2016. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
