CAIRNS POST CLUB Turia’s bravery inspires the city
BURNS survivor Turia Pitt provoked a sense of gratitude and forged even greater bonds among the Cairns business community during a special Cairns Post Club event last week.
More than 200 packed a function room at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino to enjoy a Friday night with peers and fundraise $4350 for Integrated Family and Youth Service which delivers a range of specialist support and intervention programs for children, young people and families throughout Queensland.
Sponsor, Audiohealth’s Joanna Magee, brought client Ivor Edwards along and, dressed in his trademark jester hat and pants, provided a colourful account of his hearing loss and subsequent treatment.
“Mr Edwards suffers from severe hearing loss and debilitating tinnitus,” Ms Magee said.
“When he used hearing devices he was able to communicate effectively. He’s just the most fabulous character.”
Ms Magee said, compared to Ms Pitt’s long and tortuous road to recovery via skin grafts and excruciating rehabilitation, “taking a step towards better hearing is just a bump in the road”.
“If we’re going to get life lessons, it’s from Turia. It was not one thing that kept her going, it was her mum’s support, her boyfriend but it also came from her. She is a very gutsy, strong woman.
“I have come away feeling it’s really helped me get priorities in perspective.
“This stuff always happens in life, but it’s honestly how you deal with it that matters. All of us want to give up at some point, whether it is in our personal life or business.”
IFYS area manager Sally Ann-Eakin said the money raised from the event would go towards a Christmas party for foster children and their carers.
“It was inspirational. To see someone come through adversity like that was amazing,” she said.