Purple Hero of the Season
WINTER 2013
EVERYONE WITH A 'PAY IT FORWARD' MENTALITY
This season's Purple Hero is - in the spirit of April's 'Pay it Forward' movement, everyone who has done a good dead or a nice gesture this season without expecting anything in return.
EVERYONE WITH A 'PAY IT FORWARD' MENTALITY
This season's Purple Hero is - in the spirit of April's 'Pay it Forward' movement, everyone who has done a good dead or a nice gesture this season without expecting anything in return.
AUTUMN 2013
HELEN KELLER
An amazing lady who had only two of the five senses still made a huge impact on the world: http://www.biography.com/people/helen-keller-9361967
'I am only one I can not do everything, but I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do'.
HELEN KELLER
An amazing lady who had only two of the five senses still made a huge impact on the world: http://www.biography.com/people/helen-keller-9361967
'I am only one I can not do everything, but I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do'.
SUMMER 2012
ALBERT EINSTEN
This seasons's Purple Hero is Albert Einstein. Everyone knows that the scientist was a genius, but what is less known is his struggles and failures before he was able to realise his full potential. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/einstein-bio.html
ALBERT EINSTEN
This seasons's Purple Hero is Albert Einstein. Everyone knows that the scientist was a genius, but what is less known is his struggles and failures before he was able to realise his full potential. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/einstein-bio.html
SPRING 2012
TEAM MADDY
A beautiful team made up of father and his disabled daughter, Maddy, who together participate in various triathlons. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2188373/Rick-van-Beek-Devoted-dad-runs-triathlon-carrying-teenager-daughter-cerebral-palsy.html
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thecrescat/2012/08/meet-team-maddy.html For more on this gorgeous story, go to:
TEAM MADDY
A beautiful team made up of father and his disabled daughter, Maddy, who together participate in various triathlons. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2188373/Rick-van-Beek-Devoted-dad-runs-triathlon-carrying-teenager-daughter-cerebral-palsy.html
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thecrescat/2012/08/meet-team-maddy.html For more on this gorgeous story, go to:
WINTER 2012
Emma Rathie
This season's Purple Hero is Emma Rathie, a 31 year old mum with terminal cancer that is expected to take her life by the end of the year. The brave lady and her son Blake have put together a bucket list of heartwarming, unindulgent activities they would like to do together before she dies: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8469554/dying-mum-pens-bucket-list-with-son
Emma's bucket list
1. See snow
2. Visit the Daintree Eco Lodge
3. Go on a cruise
4. See Uluru or Katherine Gorge
5. See lavender fields and go wine tasting
6. Go snorkelling in the Whitsundays
7. Do a farm stay
8. Go horse riding and stay on Magnetic Island
9. Go to Australia Zoo
10. Go to Paronella Park
Emma Rathie
This season's Purple Hero is Emma Rathie, a 31 year old mum with terminal cancer that is expected to take her life by the end of the year. The brave lady and her son Blake have put together a bucket list of heartwarming, unindulgent activities they would like to do together before she dies: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8469554/dying-mum-pens-bucket-list-with-son
Emma's bucket list
1. See snow
2. Visit the Daintree Eco Lodge
3. Go on a cruise
4. See Uluru or Katherine Gorge
5. See lavender fields and go wine tasting
6. Go snorkelling in the Whitsundays
7. Do a farm stay
8. Go horse riding and stay on Magnetic Island
9. Go to Australia Zoo
10. Go to Paronella Park
AUTUMN 2012
Jess Heard, Robert and Tommi Knight
This season, we have three Purple Heroes - an inspirational family: Jess Heard, Robert and Tommi Knight. Even though one year old Tommi has a rare and terminal conditon called Tay Sachs, following this family on facebook is uplifting - always smiling and giving their precious little boy every experience other children have, from digging into his own birthday cake - with his bare hands - and making a mess of his face, to trips to gardens, playing with friends and pets. An amazing family! To find out more about the deadly disease, go to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002390/
Jess Heard, Robert and Tommi Knight
This season, we have three Purple Heroes - an inspirational family: Jess Heard, Robert and Tommi Knight. Even though one year old Tommi has a rare and terminal conditon called Tay Sachs, following this family on facebook is uplifting - always smiling and giving their precious little boy every experience other children have, from digging into his own birthday cake - with his bare hands - and making a mess of his face, to trips to gardens, playing with friends and pets. An amazing family! To find out more about the deadly disease, go to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002390/
SUMMER 2011
Irene Sendler
This season's Purple Hero is Irena Sendler, a Holocaust hero who saved 2500 Jewish Children by smuggling them out to safety and consequently risking her own life to save theirs. For more information about this amazing woman go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irena_Sendler For her brave, selfless acts, our Purple Hero of the season
SPRING 2011
Stephen Hawkins
A Scientist in Cosmology, he has contributed greatly to his field despite suffering a motor neurone disease. "I have had motor neurone disease practically all my adult life. Yet it has not prevented me from having a very attractive family and being successful at my work" said Hawkins. For his resilience and courage, this season's Purple Hero.
http://www.hawking.org.uk/index.php/about-stephen
Stephen Hawkins
A Scientist in Cosmology, he has contributed greatly to his field despite suffering a motor neurone disease. "I have had motor neurone disease practically all my adult life. Yet it has not prevented me from having a very attractive family and being successful at my work" said Hawkins. For his resilience and courage, this season's Purple Hero.
http://www.hawking.org.uk/index.php/about-stephen
WINTER 2011
Donald Richie OAM
Suicide prevention acitivist who received this year's Local Hero Australia Day award, this 85 year old lives in Sydney's Gap - an infamous spot for suicides.
Richie has saved over 160 lives by speaking to potential victims and simply offering them a smile and an ear, this season's Puple Hero
http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/?m=donald-ritchie-2011
Donald Richie OAM
Suicide prevention acitivist who received this year's Local Hero Australia Day award, this 85 year old lives in Sydney's Gap - an infamous spot for suicides.
Richie has saved over 160 lives by speaking to potential victims and simply offering them a smile and an ear, this season's Puple Hero
http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/?m=donald-ritchie-2011
AUTUMN 2011
Anna Bligh
She's the 'first popularly elected female premier' and has lead Queensland admirably through
the devastation of recent floods. Meanwhile, the rest of Australia were in awe of her
ability to empathise, unite and effectively lead the state forward from adversity.
Therefore, Anna Bligh is a deserving and worthy Purple Hero for Autumn.
http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/about/bio.aspx
Anna Bligh
She's the 'first popularly elected female premier' and has lead Queensland admirably through
the devastation of recent floods. Meanwhile, the rest of Australia were in awe of her
ability to empathise, unite and effectively lead the state forward from adversity.
Therefore, Anna Bligh is a deserving and worthy Purple Hero for Autumn.
http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/about/bio.aspx
SUMMER 2010
Saint Mary Mackillop
Australia's first Saint is a fitting person to be our Summer Purple Hero.
She spent her life educating the poor, and together with Father Julian Tenison Woods opened the first school for the poor in Panola in 1866. 'In 1867 Mary became the first Sister, and Mother Superior, of the newly formed Order of the Sisters of St Joseph'.
Mary Mackillop experienced many adversities without losing her faith in God. One of her quotes "never see a need without doing something about it," underpins her 'Purple Hero' attitude.
A young lady named Genevieve Exton has dedicated a blog to the life of Mary of the Cross - proudly EM's summer 2010 Purple Hero.
Saint Mary Mackillop
Australia's first Saint is a fitting person to be our Summer Purple Hero.
She spent her life educating the poor, and together with Father Julian Tenison Woods opened the first school for the poor in Panola in 1866. 'In 1867 Mary became the first Sister, and Mother Superior, of the newly formed Order of the Sisters of St Joseph'.
Mary Mackillop experienced many adversities without losing her faith in God. One of her quotes "never see a need without doing something about it," underpins her 'Purple Hero' attitude.
A young lady named Genevieve Exton has dedicated a blog to the life of Mary of the Cross - proudly EM's summer 2010 Purple Hero.
SPRING 2010
We'll start with one we all know.
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, an actor, voice-over artist and comedian, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991. It was a recognised irony when he was first diagnosed, that a man with boy looks would be struck by a disease that is most common in older people.
Parkinson's disease effects the central nervous system and impairs motor skills and speech. This causes uncontrollable shaking in the sufferer.
For a sufferer to function as they did before is difficult, but to attempt to do it in the spotlight, is
brave.
Since Fox's diagnoses, he has made guest appearances in many shows, has founded the MIchael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Disease Research, was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada and is an activist for Parkinson's disease.
www.michaeljfox.org/index.cfm
For his achievements amid adversity, I declare Michael J. Fox to be the Purple Hero for Spring 2010.
We'll start with one we all know.
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, an actor, voice-over artist and comedian, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991. It was a recognised irony when he was first diagnosed, that a man with boy looks would be struck by a disease that is most common in older people.
Parkinson's disease effects the central nervous system and impairs motor skills and speech. This causes uncontrollable shaking in the sufferer.
For a sufferer to function as they did before is difficult, but to attempt to do it in the spotlight, is
brave.
Since Fox's diagnoses, he has made guest appearances in many shows, has founded the MIchael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Disease Research, was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada and is an activist for Parkinson's disease.
www.michaeljfox.org/index.cfm
For his achievements amid adversity, I declare Michael J. Fox to be the Purple Hero for Spring 2010.
If you know of a worthy PURPLE HERO nominate them here.