Casey’s approach to life inspiring
NOTHING galvanises the Geelong community quite like when one of its own is in need.
For a thriving regional city with a population of 250,000, Geelong can feel like a big country town — or even extended family — when its people come together to support a cause.
One of the greatest examples of this mass outpouring of support and generosity of spirit was on display five years ago after Casey Tutungi’s life-changing on-field accident.
A talented footballer and popular personality in Geelong and Lorne where he was raised, Tutungi’s accident while playing for South Barwon left him with dislocated and fractured C4 and C5 vertebrae and a severely damaged spinal cord.
It was an incident that rocked first the football and then broader community, but once the shockwaves subsided Geelong launched into action.
Led by the Cats, within weeks there were community fundraisers, an official appeal and a series of special events including the Concert for Casey at Kardinia Park to support Tutungi towards his journey through rehabilitation and for life after football.
And with every new part of his journey, the Geelong community watched and willed him on — celebrating each small success as he simultaneously embarked on rehab in Queensland and a family.
Five years on, Tutungi is now a father of two and continues to be a vital part of the community through his role as a football analyst at the Cats, and in his ambassador roles for various charities.
He is the living embodiment of a never-say-die attitude, with the leadership and positive outlook he showed before his accident continuing to shine through all these years later.
If the time and love Geelong put into Tutungi was an investment, the young father has paid it back tenfold. It is wonderful to see the contribution he continues to make to our society and that his accident is not holding him back, and we hope to continue to celebrate his strength and courage for another five years and beyond.