Banora Point firefighter Jason Williams campaign to raise awareness of Parkinson's and mental health charity LIVIN
Father-of-four and terminal Parkinson’s battler Jason Williams has just finished a gruelling 1400km round trip – now he’s opened up about the “dark places” he fought his way back from and what he hopes will happen when he’s gone. SEE THE VIDEO
Gold Coast
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JUST hours before Queensland shut its border to NSW, father of four and terminal Parkinson’s battler Jason Williams pedalled home from his gruelling 1400km round trip from Burleigh to Newcastle.
The 49-year-old, who dubbed his epic ride Shake, Rattle and Roll, challenged himself to complete the journey to raise awareness about early onset Parkinson’s and mental health.
He’s also fundraising to help support his wife and daughters when he no longer can.
A former firefighter and deputy captain at Banora Point Fire Station, Mr Williams was diagnosed with what he thought was an aggressive variant of Parkinson’s five years ago.
But sadly, further testing revealed he’s actually suffering from a rare genetic form of Parkinsonism called multiple system atrophy (MSA-P).
The rapid moving degenerative disease will eventually shut down his entire body and there is no cure, medication or treatment to slow the progression.
“My crew and I left Burleigh Heads on the 28th of June and during the 25-day trek I cycled anywhere from 65 to 120km every day, it was hard both physically and mentally,” he said.
Stopping at most fire stations and RSL clubs along the way, Mr Williams said crowds came up to him after his impromptu chat about Parkinson’s and mental health to share their own mental health woes with him.
“After a day of pouring rain or howling wind I would listen to everyone’s stories and it was quite unreal, I had old people crying in my arms and young people crying in my arms,” he said.
“It was very overwhelming and a lot to process, but I listened to each and every story.”
Despite his own challenges, Mr Williams said he felt privileged to have helped even just one person speak up about their mental health.
“I went to some pretty dark places when I was first diagnosed, I thought what’s the point of me being around and putting my family through this. I was in a bad place, especially with pain and not sleeping,” he said.
“My diagnosis has changed and it’s not the best outlook, but I’ve got some time to help create some memories with my family, a lot of people go to work and never get the chance to say goodbye to their loved ones.”
Mr Williams hopes he’ll be able to keep the Shake, Rattle and Roll legacy alive for his wife Tina and their daughters Holly 21, Gypsy 20, Star, 13, Pixie, 11.
“Once I’m gone, I’d love to have something in place to help the mental health of those who have illnesses or carers of those with illnesses and disabilities,” he said.
Mr Williams said he chose to support the charity LIVIN because he used the organisation’s ‘it ain’t weak to speak’ motto when he was down, tired from Parkinson’s or anxious.
To help Mr Williams family, visit gofundme.com/f/help-jason-fundraise-for-parkinsons-ride.
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Well-known Coast firie farewells 45-year career
February 10, 2021
CUTTING rings off fingers and parts of the body “you don’t want to know about” has been all part of veteran firefighter Shane Cody’s 45-year career.
The outgoing Helensvale station officer this week celebrated his 65th birthday and the end of a stellar career as a firefighter — he’s worked at more than 40 fire stations across Australia including Townsville and Beenleigh. He’s also worked overseas.
Growing up in country Victoria, Mr Cody’s best mate’s father lived and worked at the local fire station, as was common in the 1970s, and he spent lots of time there.
“My mate suggested I join and he challenged me to a game of billiards. I lost that game which is how I came to become a firefighter,” he said.
“That was in the mid-70s and I haven’t done a day's work since. Every day is an adventure and you have no idea what’s going to happen from one day to the next.
“Sure you have a lot of crap days but the good ones balance it out.”
Mr Cody said “back in the day” being a firefighter was a bit of a “boys own game” with very little breathing apparatus or protection gear.
“I think there was only one mask back then and if you used it then everyone called you a sissy. We were told to ‘suck it up son’ and just breathe in the smoke because that’s what being a firey is like.
“Well sadly a disproportionate number of older firies are dead now because of lung cancers. Thankfully things are much safer now.”
Mr Cody, who has worked alongside his son Lee at Helensvale Fire Station for several years, said firefighting wasn’t a job for everyone and that there were a lot of judgment calls to make and confronting scenes to attend.
One of the worst incidents was having to attend a car crash and rescuing a mother and her young son, only to be confronted with fire around the corner a short time later.
“I then found out later that the two people we’d rescued earlier had died,” he said.
“We have to remind ourselves that we didn’t cause this and we’re on the scene to make things better from now on.”
It was rare that Mr Cody found out the outcome of every accident or fire he attended, but he did occasionally get cards and cartons of beer from grateful locals.
As for the widespread use of mobile phones nowadays, the 65-year-old is not a fan, and he’s been known to give Gold Coasters on their phones a fright by sounding his siren when he sees them behind the wheel.
“I don’t love them and from where I’m sitting in my truck I can see them so I scare the s**t out of them. I’ve also attended many prangs when you know phones are the cause but drivers try to hide them,” he said.
Mr Cody, who used to ride his “pushy” to work from his Arundel home, said retirement hadn’t quite sunk in yet, but that he was excited about spending more time golfing and with his wife of 40 years Dianne.
“We’ve been caravanners before it became popular so we’re looking forward to spending some time travelling around Australia,” he said.
“My advice is to enjoy what you do because you've got to work for a long time and if you don’t it’s a real trudge.”
Daring duck rescue on Coast prompts wildlife warning - Nov 2020
FIRIES have helped rescue a newborn duckling stuck in a drain in Bundall after receiving a call for help from Wildcare on Thursday morning.Concerned locals called the animal rescue service after discovering a lonely pacific black duckling down a drain on Slatyer Ave, alongside the Southport Golf Course.
Wildcare volunteer Deanne Hall, of Ashmore, was first on the scene and said firefighters were needed to pry open the bolts of the drain so she could rescue the duckling.
“I couldn’t see it to start with, so I played the sound of a pacific black mumma duck call on my phone and managed to located the baby duck as it quacked back,” she said.
“Mumma duck has obviously laid her eggs somewhere in the garden of the golf course nearby and taken her ducklings to get water and they must have all fallen in the drain.
“All of them got out except for that one, perhaps mum couldn’t get this one out.
“Ducks are usually pretty good parents, except when they cross the road, but it’s not as though they can take road safety lessons.”
Ms Hall said the mother duck was nearby, but if she attempted to reunite it with her baby it was likely she would be scared and flee the scene.
“It would have died if it had been left in the water all alone, not just because it’s a newborn and wouldn’t be able to stay warm, but because it would become lonely,” she said.
A duck carer will take in the orphan, along with other rescued ducklings, and it will be released to a property with others of the same age.
A Queensland Fire Service spokeswoman confirmed a crew was called to Bundall at about 9.30am after it was called by Wildcare where it proceeded to help open a drain where a duckling was stuck. The crew of about four left about 20 minutes later leaving the newborn in the hands of Wildcare.
Ms Hall said it was baby bird season and Wildcare had been busy rescuing injured, abandoned or lost birds, particularly those that have fallen out of trees.
“It’s important for the public to know that if they come across birds on the ground then it’s best to leave them and call us,” she said.
“The best option for the bird is that it’s not removed from where it was found.
“We’ve also been busy rescuing lots of baby possums recently, their mothers have usually been hit by cars.”
If you’ve hit wildlife or have found a sick or injured creature, call Wildcare on 5527 2444.
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