GERONIMO
During PARAQUAD SA's 9th Annual United Water ZOO Accessible Adventure Days in May 2009, a competition was staged to find a name for our new mascot, the giraffe. PARAQUAD SA has chosen the giraffe as our mascot to help raise awareness of Spinal Cord Injury within the younger community and to help raise vital funds for the services we provide across the state. The winning name - GERONIMO - was chosen from over 100 entries, with the winner being 12 year old Lauren Dinning of Mundulla. PARAQUAD SA is now selling a range of cute, fluffy GERONIMOs for $5, $10 or $15 each to raise funds for the services we provide across the state. If you would like to have your very own GERONIMO, they can be purchased from our reception at 28 Lower Portrush Road, Marden, during office hours.

KANGAROO ISLAND TREK
Two brothers, Tom (25) and Jake (18) Giles completed a circumnavigation (or perhaps a circumterragation) of Kangaroo Island by foot during April and May 2009. Their 500 km trek - mainly following the coast - took them across cliff-tops, through secluded valleys and coves, over remote windswept beaches and past spectacular rock formations. It is the first time a complete 'circumterragation' of Kangaroo Island by foot has been completed in one go. Tom & Jake lived mainly off the land and sea and undertook extensive research into the edible fish and plant life on and around Kangaroo Island before their trip. The trek helped to raise awareness of Spinal Cord Injury and PARAQUAD SA. The next edition of PQA News will feature a story from Tom & Jake about their adventures and more photos. In the meantime, you can checkout their diary and photos at Tourism Kangaroo Island's web-site here. Tom & Jake’s adventure was made possible thanks to the support of Tourism Kangaroo Island, Sealink Travel Group, noimove, GotOne St. Marys and T-Shirt City.

SEA OF WHEELCHAIRS PREVENTION CAMPAIGN
On Friday 14th November 2008, Adelaide's Rundle Street was awash in a Sea of Wheelchairs, as PARAQUAD SA, with support from the Motor Accident Commission and advertising agency JAM SHOP, reminded South Australians that a Spinal Cord Injury is sometimes only one drink away.

During November 2008, hundreds of dining chairs along Rundle Street were turned into wheelchairs, to highlight the dangers of drink driving and the consequences of a motor vehicle crash, which will change a person's life forever. Every year across Australia, hundreds of people are seriously injured in motor vehicle crashes, with many experiencing the trauma of a Spinal Cord Injury and the challenging period of healing and readjustment for both them and their families. In many cases, innocent people have their lives changed forever due to the actions of drink drivers.

PARAQUAD SA, with support from the Motor Accident Commission, officially launched the Sea of Wheelchairs campaign at 11.30am on Friday 14th November, 2008.

PARAQUAD SA recognises Network Ten, the Independent Weekly, City Messenger, FIVEaa, MIX 102.3, and Cruise 1323 for their coverage of the launch. PARAQUAD SA also recognises the creators of the campaign, JAM SHOP, for their innovative campaign and support in putting the chairs together for the launch.

GOVERNOR VISITS HAMPSTEAD REHABILITATION CENTRE'S SPINAL INJURY UNIT
On Thursday 2nd October 2008, His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR, the Governor of South Australia, saw first hand the rehabilitation process for people recovering from a Spinal Cord Injury.

His Excellency - who is Patron of PARAQUAD SA - undertook a tour of the Royal Adelaide Hospital Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre's Spinal Injury Unit with Dr. Ruth Marshall and PARAQUAD SA CEO James Kinghorn, as they discussed the challenging process of healing and readjustment with both patients and outpatients and the Unit's experienced and dedicated medical team.
 
His Excellency's visit to the Unit was organised by PARAQUAD SA to lift the spirits of patients undergoing rehabilitation and to highlight the work of the professionals in the field of Spinal Cord Injury in South Australia. His Excellency's visit certainly did that, with both patients and staff left smiling from ear to ear. PARAQUAD SA has been a long time supporter of the Spinal Injury Unit, with support including the funding of two on-site Peer Support Advocates - the only Unit in Australia with this on-site support - and the Unit's Internet Cafe QWERTY, and the donation of blinds for the barbecue area.