Beau inspires student leaders
LEONGATHA Seniors football coach and champion hand cycler Beau Vernon shared his words of wisdom with students at the South Gippsland Student Leadership Conference in Korumburra on April 19.
One hundred student leaders from 20 schools in the region came together for a series of workshops aimed at improving their leadership skills and exploring the traits of good leaders.
Speaking of his football injury which left him a quadriplegic in 2012, Mr Vernon shared his inspirational story about overcoming challenges and building resilience with the students.
“I spent eight months in hospital and went from not being able to feed myself or use my arms, to now pushing myself around in my wheelchair, driving a car and dressing myself,” he said.
“I am slowly getting better and better at everything I do.”
Mr Vernon said he has always tried to maintain a positive attitude in spite of the setbacks his accident had caused him.
“We cannot always control the things that happen to us, but we can control our attitude,” he said.
“For me, attitude is the voice inside your head that says whether I can or cannot do something. Sometimes we do not realise how powerful that voice is.
“A positive attitude will lead to positive outcomes.
“Leaders are always trying to help others around them to be better. Being a leader is about what is doing what is best for everyone and not just yourself.”
Mr Vernon said he was “no different to anyone else” and had achieved great success in all areas of life in the four years since his accident.
Mr Vernon and wife Lucy welcomed daughter Layla six weeks ago. He has tried surfing, wheelchair rugby, darts, became a national hand cycling champion this year and last year led the Parrots to a grand final in his debut coaching role.
“I do not talk about my achievements to big note myself. I share them because if you had told me when I was hurt that I would one day be able to do all of these things, I would not have believed you,” Mr Vernon said.
“It has not been easy and I have failed at my first attempt of everything I have tried. But I tried again and again until I could do it.
“With a good attitude and teamwork, anything is possible.”
The conference marked the fifth in South Gippsland, organised in conjunction with the Assistant Principals Network and the South Gippsland Bass Coast Local Learn Employment Network.
“The day promotes leadership within schools in the area,” organiser Karena Kerr said.
“These students are expected to take what they have learned and use it in their roles, and also teach other students about leadership.”
Leaders inspired: Beau Vernon (centre) met with Inverloch-Kongwak Primary School leaders Jack Butcher and Joe Soumalis at the South Gippsland Student Leadership Conference on Tuesday, April 19. Mr Vernon attended the school as a child.
Short URL: /?p=18273
Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Apr 27 2016. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
