Page 18 - Port Douglas Magazine 35

INSPIRATIONAL
For Sarah, being able to fly a drone is not something
natural. Truth be known, holding up a camera or
even a phone is hard for her as she suffers from
muscular dystrophy, a disease that causes weakness
and loss of muscle mass.
“The drone gives me more freedom. If someone else
sets it up for me ready to launch, I can hold the
remote on my lap.
“The type of muscular dystrophy I have is called
limb girdle. It is a genetic disorder, caused by a
recessive gene inherited by both parents. There was
only a 25 percent chance of me having it, so I guess
I was a little unlucky.
“Until my thirties, I lived a very normal life, in
fact I was quite sporty. I was a champion swimmer
in primary school and I played tennis and squash
competitively right up until my diagnosis in 1992.
“It wasn’t until I was thirty that I started noticing Inspired by Freequill. “A Single Perspective is the Enemy of Reality”
the symptoms. One day, in an aerobics class, I
couldn’t get onto my tippy toes during an exercise. Every six months Sarah came up to Port Douglas “I also enjoy interior design so it would be great to
Looking back now, it had already started earlier but to escape the winter in Sydney, but when Covid collaborate with an interior designer. I can see us
I didn’t think much of it and had overlooked some hit she decided to get out of Sydney as soon as she in a magazine with one of our photos promoting
of the symptoms. could and she hasn’t been back since. a brand.
“Gradually, I got weaker and weaker and I started “There are so many things I love about Port “I plan to take more photos of buildings and play
walking with a stick. In 2016 my dog Pippa Douglas. I love the weather up here, even the wet with some very creative angles. I will be going back
accidentally knocked me over, I fell badly and season. I also love the rainforest and the ocean,” she to Perth soon to visit family so I am bursting to see
broke my leg. That was the last time I ever stood said. what I can do in a big city. Not only with buildings
up, walked or drove a car. From that day on my but also with our hallmark, the many different
life completely changed, but you just have to get on “Up here you have the perfect combination of basketball courts available.
with life and that’s what I did. climate, rainforest and water. It ticks all the boxes
and I love being able to live outside pretty much “Without the events of the last couple of years
“I swim every day and that has saved me both all year round. I pinch myself every day on how I would never have bought a drone and I would
physically and mentally. I am sure my condition beautiful it is up here.” probably still just be painting. I really am just so
would have accelerated more if I hadn’t been able grateful that something so wonderful has come out
to still swim. Living in a tropical climate also helps, of something so awful as the pandemic and there is
because my muscles are weak, I don’t function very FUTURE GOALS no doubt in my mind, I have found my passion.”
well in cold weather.” Sarah said her head is bursting with ideas for
photographs. “Things pop up in my head, it is Something tells me, nothing is going to stop this
motived pair and we cannot wait to see the new
PORT DOUGLAS normally pretty spontaneous,” she said. heights (excuse the pun) they will soar to on their
Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Sarah “Minimalism is our thing, and we are moving more journey. The team from Air Bare certainly are the
moved to Sydney when her youngest daughter and more towards that. I would love to be involved ones to watch!
Tess played water polo, eventually making a junior with an advertising campaign like a sports, clothing airbare.com.au
Australian team. or accessories brand and do a cool shoot.

20 tourismportdouglas.com.au