Clarence John Grogan, known as C.J., is a young Aboriginal wheelchair basketball star who will play internationally this year after competing at all national levels. Originally from Darwin, C.J. was born with Fibular Limb Deficiency, which affects the long bones in the body. He is the first Aboriginal wheelchair basketball player at the elite level in Australia. He is currently both studying for his Higher School Certificate at St Ignatius College and competing in the National Championship Title at the Open Australian Championship.

Fiona McKenzie was invited to join the NSW Disability Minister’s Reference Group on Person Centred Approaches to represent people with an intellectual disability. This follows her outstanding work as a member, and later Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, of the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability. Her determination has driven her to compete in the Sydney City2Surf, running her 10th this year. As relaxation, Fiona enjoys Zumba classes and reading mystery novels.

Nicholas Gleeson combines his love of athletics and global adventuring to inspire others. An accident at the age of seven left him with a retinal detachment. Nick successfully represented Australia in athletics and blind cricket. As a speaker, Nick brings his sporting and travel adventures to life. He has twice crossed the finish line in the New York City Marathon, carried the Sydney Olympic Torch, raced up the 1,576 steps of the Empire State Building, completed the gruelling 90-kilometre Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and lived to tell the tale.

Saxon Graham is an actor and international golfer. At 38, Saxon has represented Australia in golf at the Australasian Games in Christchurch. In 2007, he won a silver medal in golf at the World Summer Games in Shanghai. As an actor, his credits include the television series GP, A Country Practice, Heartbreak High and House Gang. His has worked for 18 years at Meals on Wheels, as well as for the Special Olympics in Homebush, Woolworths and the Holdsworth Community Centre. Saxon is this year’s Woollahra Council Citizen of the Year.

Tracy Barrell OAM is currently writing her autobiography. Her story involves having to overcoming people’s attitude toward her disability as a triple congenital amputee, despite her considerable achievements. The mother of two boys, Tracy won two gold medals in swimming at the Barcelona Paralympics in 1992. Tracy considers her most prestigious award to be the Order of Australia Medal she received in 1993. Tracy retired from international swimming in 1994 but continues to play sport and has represented Australia at Sitting Volleyball.

Melissa Eustace loves dancing and softball to an Olympian degree. Mel is a founding member of the Special Olympics Dance Performance Group and has performed at numerous corporate and charity events. She was a bronze medal winner as a member of the Australian Special Olympics Softball team at the Special Olympics World Games in Athens this year. Every Easter since 2008, Mel has swum the annual 1.5 kilometre Rock to Rock ocean swim on the NSW Mid-North Coast.

Steve Ripley is an actor who fulfilled a dream by appearing in an Australian theatre production of Children of a Lesser God. The play reflects his life as teacher of Auslan and independent living skills to young deaf people who have vision impairments. Gradually deaf and blind, Steve has supported parents and families of children who are deaf or have impaired hearing. Currently, Steve works as a Communications Trainer with people who are deaf and blind. When he travels, Steve can be found at the local Trash and Treasure markets.

Hannen Abdallah speaks in Arabic and Australian about giving people with a disability from non-English speaking backgrounds a voice. As a ‘Community Voice’ for the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association and a community educator for Vision Australia, the engaging and energetic Hannen is being heard. Hannen has a learning disability and is vision impaired.She is a member of the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability and the NSW Network of Women with Disability and loves belly dancing.

Georgia Cranko communicates without speech. Like many other 21-year-olds she is studying at university and believes she can change the world. With Georgia, this is already happening. Born with cerebral palsy, she uses her wit and humour to counteract prejudice. As part of last year’s Don’t Dis my Ability campaign, Georgia devised and performed a solo piece, ‘Living Within Context’ exploring the challenges and triumphs of life with a disability. She is a founding member of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) interest group AAC Voice.

Gerard O’Dwyer is an actor and a spokesperson for Beyond the Square, Parramatta Riverside Theatre’s dedicated performing arts program for people with a disability. Gerard’s credits include the Tropfest short film, Be My Brother, which won him the best actor award. This year Gerard, who has Down Syndrome won a best male actor award for his role in the short play, Beautiful, performed at the Newtown Theatre and Nida’s Parade Theatre. You may remember Gerard in the government advertisement, CareCareers, which won a Bronze Award for Best Television Commercial.

Tracie Sammut is a Logie-award winning actor who has appeared on GP, All Saints, Home and Away and House Gang. Tracie, who has Down Syndrome, began her career at 14. She appeared in the 2007 Australian feature film Clubland as well as the short film Francis and Annie. Tracie moved to the other side of the camera for the short film Be My Brother in 2009. Recently Tracie completed a Professional Development Community Partnership with the Australian Theatre for Young People as a drama teacher. An accredited coach in gymnastics, she represented Australia at the World Games for Special Olympics held in Athens in June this year.

Rhys Baxter is an experienced wheelchair athlete who is always willing to mentor. Rhys rebuilt his life after an injury that left him paralysed from the chest down. A move to Sydney saw him presenting road safety talks for Wheelchair Sports NSW. He now works full time for Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, helping people with spinal cord injuries to live full and rewarding lives. Rhys plays in in the Australian National Wheelchair Basketball League, and in the NEC Wheelchair Tennis tournaments. Recently, Rhys was selected for the Frank Ponta Cup at the Australian Institute of Sport, a development camp matching new players with experienced Australian players.

Julie Stonestreet loves travelling the world after her chances of even getting out of bed had been considered slim. Julie, 37, was born with 14 fractures caused by Osteogenesis Imperfecta (or Brittle Bone disease). One hundred fractures and 26 operations later, she is still defying the odds and living her own life. Julie lives independently and teaches in tourism at Wollongong and Bankstown TAFE. She has enjoyed trips to the United States, including New York, plus Bali, Singapore and islands in the South Pacific.

Kate Boyd goes to work at Woolworths each weekday. After leaving school, she had completed a TAFE course on Career Education for Women. Kate’s contribution to the company and to the community earned her selection as a Woolworths Hero. Kate, 35, has an Acquired Brain Injury. Through the Brain Injury Association, she gives talks on road safety to schoolchildren and lessons on how to behave towards people with brain injuries. Kate lives independently and does not have a carer.

Dr Mark Bagshaw believes that addressing the problems of economically disadvantaged people makes good business and economic sense. As the Managing Director of Innov8 consulting group he is in a position to prove the economic and business benefits of a more inclusive society. Mark, a quadriplegic, is a recipient of a number of awards including the Australian Humanitarian Award for his work as a social reformer. Education, he says, plays a crucial role in developing a just society. Mark uses his previous corporate experience as Business Development Executive for IBM to help businesses and corporations to see the light.