Lindsay Sutton - Beerwah

Lindsay Sutton from Beerwah

It is with great pride (and more than a little sadness); that we will farewell Lindsay from Beerwah State High School at the end of the year. Over the last five years Lindsay has shown us that regardless of perceived ability or disability, you really can achieve anything.

Lindsay is a young man who has an intellectual impairment and severe epilepsy. Despite this, or maybe because of it, Lindsay has achieved a number of great things in his life thus far.

While he works within the special education class at the high school, he attends five subjects and completes the standard work in most of them. His quick wit, fantastic sense of humour and ability to enjoy life with a smile has helped build relationships with a group of supportive friends who accept and like Lindsay for who he is.

At the end of this year he will complete a Certificate II in Hospitality. Lindsay has gained the practical experience needed for this qualification by working in an à la carte restaurant in Brisbane.

He is a skilled and valued worker in their kitchen. His excellence in food production and technology has been formally recognised at the school on a number of occasions.

Lindsay's main focus is his athletics. He is a member of the Queensland Academy of Sport and has a scholarship to attend the academy next year. Lindsay holds the current Australian record for under 14 and under 16 discus and under 14 and under 16 javelin for athletes with a disability in his category.

He will be attending the mainstream national competition next year in Sydney and will then compete in Canberra as an athlete with a disability. In 2007 Lindsay will travel to Rio de Janeiro for the world championships as an athlete with a disability.