He’s an athlete who has achieved an admirable sport/life balance after identifying that the party-boy life was proving incredibly destructive not only for him, but for others he cared about. After losing his leg as the result of a sickening football tackle in 1999, Darren or Daz as he is known to the world turned to serious self destructive behaviour to cope with the pain. Before long his life was spiralling out of control. When he hit rock-bottom, with fading self-belief and high levels of anxiety, things didn’t look at all promising.

Teetering on the brink of disaster, he finally realised he needed to take control of his life. Included in his transformation was a huge move to Australia from the UK.

Gradually developing resilience and tenacity, he soon established many positive habits, and with them came the turnaround he was seeking. Through his love of sport he found the desire to fight, joining a local martial arts club and training as a Paralympic hopeful. With the will to make a change in his life and empower others to do the same, Daz applied himself to coaching. He now lives with real purpose.

After gradually eliminating unhelpful impediments from his life and discovering his true desire to grow through challenging himself, Daz is now in training for his toughest challenge yet, the gruelling 21-kilometre Spartan Beast extreme obstacle race to be held in Bright later in the year. He has also committed to running his first full marathon in 2017. When not training, he spends much of his time working as a life-coach, helping individuals to be the person they want to be. Daz also has a solid corporate background having worked as a senior accountant for nearly 20 years prior to his recent career change.  Daz still works part-time as a Chief Financial Officer for a non-profit statutory authority.

With knockout good looks, Daz has become one of Australia’s most sought-after male amputee models, and has also featured regularly in international campaigns.

Through his incredible story and honest examination of his own disposition, this father-of-two and popular motivational speaker has helped countless audiences take the next step to a better quality of life.

The post Darren Collins appeared first on StarAmp Global.

Our Star Hannah Macdougall shares the insight of living in her shoe, it’s honest and valuable, something for everyone.

Click on this link to learn The power of mindfulness from someone who knows.

http://fridaybestmag.com/interview-hannah-macdougall/

Enjoy the learnings

Cheers

Don

The post The power of mindfulness appeared first on StarAmp Global.

Managing Director of StarAmp Global Don Elgin said “joining forces with such an innovative brand like VIRUS would provide opportunities for the elite amputees athletes managed by StarAmp Global to have access to cutting edge technology that not only looks great but will help them in pursuit of being the best in their chosen field.”

“The StarAmp global VIRUS partnership is a relationship I’m incredibly proud of, having VIRUS on board is a great endorsement of the work we are doing to help our athletes not just to be great sports people on the track but great role models away from their field of play” said Elgin.

VIRUS clothing uses world first technology. With fabrics that aid in cooling, heating and recovery, the sharp looking range has been designed with patterns that compress, give support and protect the athlete in every situation. VIRUS performance wear assist athletes in their individual pursuit to train, recover and perform.

Peter Papantoniou, VIRUS Commercial Manager said “Our cutting edge fabric is designed to withstand the rigors of hard use.  The StarAmp Global athletes are pushing the limits everyday, they work hard and epitomize everything VIRUS stands for both on and off the track. It’s great to partner with a business that truly reflects the values of our brand.

Papantoniou said “VIRUS allows athletes to
have technical apparel that keeps up with them.  Stay Warm, Stay Cool and Recovery all with well-built long lasting gear.”

VIRUS Australia is the official training apparel supplier to AFL club Port Adelaide Power and Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels.

The post StarAmp Global partners with VIRUS appeared first on StarAmp Global.

According to our Star Kelly Cartwright, feeling like a baby giraffe is a fair assessment of what it feels like. Click the link below to read all about it.

http://www.kellycartwright.com.au/feeling-like-a-baby-giraffe/

The post Our Star Kelly Cartwright thoughts of her comeback appeared first on StarAmp Global.

Last Wednesday, Year 11 and 12 students were fortunate enough to attend a ConnectED session in which special guest speaker Jack Swift spoke to the students about his incredible life journey. Jack’s story was truly inspirational, and the students were riveted as he related details of the workplace accident that resulted in the amputation of his lower leg, and his subsequent battles to overcome his injuries and go on to represent Australian at the Paralympic Games in London in 2012. He also spoke of his ambition to represent Australia at the next Olympics in Rio de Janerio in 2016, albeit in a different event to that in which he competed in London.

In relaying his story to the students, Jack spoke of the importance of not dwelling on misfortune but rather facing up to the challenges that life presents. He also spoke of how, when he did start to feel sorry for himself, he would think of those people he meet in the rehabilitation centre that were destined to live the rest of their life in a wheelchair as a result of being left paralysed, and he would be reminded of the fact that there are always people worse off than yourself. He also challenged students to accept that there will be many setbacks along the way – he experienced many of these during his rehab – and that you can either choose to let these setbacks stop you from achieving your goals and dreams or you can face up to them and set about overcoming them. Finally, he spoke of the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family – without the support of these he doubted that he would ever have achieved the level of success that he has.

These messages were of course all highly relevant to our Year 11 and 12 students as they undertake the final two and arguably most important, years of their secondary schooling. Resilience, sacrifice, motivation, effort, desire, attitude and support are all part of the recipe for success at school just as they are for life in general.

 Jack’s Story:

At just 21-years-of-age Jack’s life was forever changed when while working in the construction industry, a 14-tonne excavator crushed his right leg in a trenching accident. The extent of damage sustained resulted in his leg having to be amputated below the knee. Having been an avid sportsperson before his accident, Jack now faced a future in which he may have been unable to ever run again, and this realisation was the first of many challenges that he faced as part of his recuperation. However, after the amputation and undergoing extensive skin grafts to save his knee as well as many months of rehabilitation, Jack began to walk in a hydrotherapy pool. In doing so he began to feel as if he was getting control of his life back and, slowly, he learned to walk again with the aid of a prosthesis. It was whilst recovering that he was introduced to triple Paralympic athletics star Don Elgin, who encouraged him to take up Paralympic sport.

Just two years after he commenced training as a 400 metre runner, Jack would gain national representative honours after being named in the Australian Paralympic team to compete at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand. Impressive results continued to flow for Jack but his greatest moment arrived a year later when he lined up in front of the world at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Jack’s constant search for new opportunities and greater challenges has seen him switch his focus from the 400 metres and he will instead aim to qualify for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio in one of the most rigorous Paralympic events – the triathlon. In 2014 he placed second in his category in the ITU World Paratriathlon event, so he is well on the way to realising this ambition.

Away from the track, Jack’s good looks and engaging personality saw him feature as a finalist in the 2010 Men’s Health Competition. In the same year he was named Nivea for Men Face of the Year and in 2011 he was a Cleo Bachelor of the Year finalist.

(Further information about Jack Swift can be found at http://www.jackswift.com.au/)

Conclusion:

Jack’s presentation last week was really well received by all those students (and staff) present and was a fantastic way to kick-off the series of guest speakers and events that will mark this year’s ConnectED program for our Year 11 and 12 students. On behalf of the students at RSC, many thanks Jack for sharing your inspirational story with us.

The post Jack Swift Paralympian never fails to motivate and inspire students appeared first on StarAmp Global.

Fortunately my passion for exploring our beautiful planet has not dwindled in the slightest over the years… being on my third passport is testament to that. For a number of years it was sport that provided the vehicle for exploring and revelling in the opportunity to purchase duty-free when departing or returning home. I think it’s almost a mandatory part of international travel now. I see it as the ultimate chance of bagging a bargain.

As a child growing up on the banks of the mighty Murray River in beautiful Tocumwal, I’d often look skywards in amazement at the highflying aircraft. I’d think about the people on board and the exciting adventures they must be having.

Tocumwal, as my dad would remind me, was directly under the flight path from Brisbane to Melbourne. My work and the occasional family holiday have led me to concur with my dad about this, and thanks to my many flights I’ve become one of those travellers fortunate enough to have been on a plane flying over their home town on their very own exciting adventure. It’s wonderful to look down as proud as punch at the spot on earth where your childhood memories lay.

There are few nations better positioned than mine to beat its chest about its offerings not only to the people fortunate enough to call it home, but also to the many thousands that visit yearly. Over the years I’ve been sure not to neglect my own amazing country travel-wise.

In Australia we have a tendency to do things big. Some would say we’re famous for it. We have one of the biggest rocks in the world, we have the Big Pineapple, the Big Banana, the Big Koala… in Tocumwal we even have a Big Fish. There are many more Big things Australia can be proud of, and most locals in towns with something Big are only too pleased to let you know just why theirs is so special.

One thing I’ve come to understand over the years is that people from all over the world are proud of what they have in the place they call home, and sometimes it’s not just the locals shouting to the sky about their treasure. One place that seems to have the whole world talking up its features is Paris, the romantic capital of the world. It’s not a place I’d anticipated seeing so soon – after all, Paris is 25,423km from Tocumwal.

For many years I’ve heard of the captivating power of the Eiffel Tower, and I’ve imagined a tower so big that they’d needed to build a city just to accommodate it. I thought it would be so big that all of Australia’s Big things would seem like little toys in comparison.

I’ve recently seen the Eiffel Tower for myself. I approached by the same route taken by many a tourist before me, and at the risk of sounding somewhat spoilt for choice, at first I was a little – dare I say it? – disappointed. I’d expected more. I was ready to be lost in the size and beauty of what I’d come to believe was one of the most romantic places on earth, but sadly I wasn’t moved as I’d anticipated. It was something of an anti-climax.

I don’t recall an experience quite like the one I’ve just had in Paris. They say first impressions are the lasting ones. Well, I can honestly say my second and third impressions of the Eiffel Tower will stay with me for a lifetime for all the right reasons.

I’m a huge fan of illumination and the spectacle it provides. Someone who spends as much time and money wildly decorating his house with flashing lights come Christmas time as I do was always going to get back to the Tower to see how it came up after dark.

It was that return trip that changed everything. To see the Tower at night is a privilege, and something I’d suggest should be on everyone’s bucket list. I finally understood why the world has been singing its the praises for as long as I can recall. What an incredibly amazing spectacle the Eiffel Tower is at night. Just when you’re coming to terms with the true beauty of this man-made masterpiece, the clock strikes the hour and a light-shower second to none springs into life for the next 5 minutes. With strobe lights flashing from top to bottom it’s near impossible to look away. You break briefly to ensure you’ve managed to capture the perfect photo… though I’m not even sure that’s possible.

Any photo is highly likely to fall short of doing justice to what I can only describe as one of the most stunning sights I have ever seen.

On the back of this more-than-memorable trip I’m already planning my next adventure. As a huge fan of travel and with an increasingly open mind, I eagerly await the opportunity of experiencing another chapter of this extraordinary facet of life that’s only beyond your reach if you let it be.

Oh, and if you ever find yourself flying over Tocumwal, be sure to smile. I have no doubt there’ll be another little boy down there looking up and dreaming of one day sitting right where you are and heading off on his own excellent adventure.

Cheers

Don

The post The Eiffel Tower Paris appeared first on StarAmp Global.

Click the link below to share Hannah’s insight to the long haul travel and preparation.

http://www.hannahmacdougall.com.au/settling-segovia/

Hannah is a brilliant role model and we wish her well in her quest to be her best at the up coming World Cup.

The post Hannah rides Segovia appeared first on StarAmp Global.

The post Hannah’s Stars Shines Bright appeared first on StarAmp Global.

It’s always great when our Stars get involved and throw their weight behind a cause.

Click the link to see Kelly Cartwright Ambassador for St Laurence dancing in the Geelong mall with a few of the St Laurence clients.

Kelly Cartwright dancing up a storm with the guys from St Laurence

The post Kelly Cartwright appeared first on StarAmp Global.

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