Schools visited during 2008... Bombala students hear Sam's story Sam and Jenny visited Bombala High School on December 5, where Sam spoke to Years 5 and 6 from Bombala Primary School and all the students at the high school. He's pictured with school respresentatives after they received their signed copies of "Head Over Heels" for their school libraries. They included (l-r) Marni Moreing, John Marriott, Bombala High Principal Philip Steel, Katie Peisley and Keiren Rodwell. Tumut visit includes two high schools Sam spoke to students at McAuley Central School on December 2. He's pictured with (back, l-r) Brandon Hawkins, Kieran Green, Gabrielle Browne, Don Grove, Jessica Hartshorn and Brendan Ironside; (front l-r) Blake Barton and Blake Symons. Sam also caught up with these students at Tumut High School on December 2 after his talk (l-r) Edith Turner, Jordyn McDonald, Andrew Myers, Hayden Wyborn and Scott Roberts. Coonabarabran a star attraction Coonabarabran, in north west NSW is famous for its star-attraction Siding Springs - the Southern Hemisphere's largest telescope - but it attracted Sam and Jenny Bailey for another reason in September. They went to speak to all the students at Coonabarabran High School on September 22, which was a great thrill. Sam is pictured with school captains Ricky Duggan and Zoe Stephenson and a copy of "Head Over Heels' donated to their school library. Visiting Toowoomba schools Sam visited and spoke to students at Toowoomba Grammar and Toowoomba Preparatory schools during Disability Services Queensland's celebrations of Disability Action Week (September 14 to 20). He's pictured with (standing at back l-r) Will Bailey (a cousin from Moree) and Sophie Donaldson (a neighbour who comes from Croppa Creek), and (front) Sam Thorne (who's mother Sandy was camp cook at "Avon Downs" in the Northern Territory when Sam was jackarooing there in 1987, just prior to the car accident that left him a quadriplegic).  Sam drops into Wellington Primary Sam spoke at Wellington Primary School on Thursday, September 4, where he presented a copy of 'Head Over Heels' to Year 5 students Tim Johnston and Lachlan Conn for their school library. Wheelchair lift officially launched Sam was the first to use a new wheelchair lift at Dungog High School after speaking there on August 7. It was officially launched that day, and Sam had the privilege of being the first to use it to get up onto the school hall stage. He's pictured on his way back down with (l-r) Year SRC Josh Horn, Principal Maureen Jarvis and School President, Bianca Allen Jagoe. Sam with students from Dungog primary schools after speaking to them on August 7. Mt Isa School of Air hears Sam's story    On July 17 Sam told his story to a very special audience, students of Mt Isa School of the Air, their tutors and some additional parents from remote northern Queensland and parts of Northern Territory. About 80 in total listened via speaker phone, while looking at pictures of Sam doing various things, on their computers. Mt Isa School of the Air includes up to 200 students from across the 800,000 square kilometre area from Richmond in east Queensland, north to Burketown, south to Birdsville and south-east as far as Winton, plus some just inside the Northern Territory Border. ABOVE: The Wockner children, Cody, 3, Charlie, 7, and Darcy, 5, were amongst the audience during Sam's talk. They live at 'Glenore', Normanton, just inland from the Gulf of Carpentaria. LEFT: Darcy is pictured at left listening to Sam.  BELOW: Bronte and Heidi Lynch listening to Sam's talk with their dad, Dan joining in. They live at 'Tara Station' near Cloncurry.    Connecting with 1800 Cowra kids   On June 23 Sam connected with an estimated 1800 Cowra children when he spoke to various schools in the town, from infants right up to senior high school students.  ABOVE: Sam is pictured with Mulyan Public School captains Stephanie Roots and Tim Gillham (left) and Holmwood Public School representatives, Jacob Stendell and Samantha Light (right) after they received copies of 'Head Over Heels' for their libraries. RIGHT: Boys Captain, Anthony Bird (left) receiving a book for Woodstock Public School library while Koorawatha Public School boy captain, Ryan Bartle looks on.     Sam and Jenny also presented books to Dylon Gaudry and Grace Smith, representatives from St Raephael's Central School (left); and Cowra High School captains Katy Fischer and Nick Whiteley (right).

Touring Gulgong and Mudgee

Gulgong High School students (l-r) Sam Sanders, Kelvin Baldacchino, Hanna Barker, Sophie Johnston, Jacqui Kerr and Chloe O'Reilly heard Sam speak to Years 10, 11 and 12 at their school on June 10.

Sam and Jenny also spoke at Mudgee High School and St Matthews Central School on June 10. They are pictured with Mudgee High School students (l-r) Jacob Mackenzie, John Drummond, Suzannah Smith, Stephanie Reed, Tom Baddock, Allaster Stanford and Scott Binks.

Young schools over two day

On May 29 and 30 we spoke to students from schools in Young and Cootamundra. (ABOVE): Friday afternoon's talk included Bellhaven Special School students (l-r) Nic Everdell, Taylor Holland, Chris Coulson and Ashley Maxwell. (LEFT): Sam met Tamara Taylor from Cootamundra School after speaking to her school on Friday.

On Friday morning Sam spoke to the small schools in the Young and Cootamundra area. Each school received a free copy of 'Head Over Heels' for their libraries. (l-r, back) April Paterson, Bendick Murrell Public School; Eden Trickett, Cootamundra Public School; and Ashleigh Perrett, Wombat Public School. (Kneeling, left) Thomas Taylor, Greenethorpe Public School and (kneeling, right) Celia Blair, Maimuru Public School. (Front l-r) Meg McAllister, Young North Public School; Kate Fowler, Mounteagle Public School and Claire Yates, Murringo Public School. 

On May 29 Sam spoke to students at Young Public School. Amongst the audience were two cousins, Lily and Jock McGregor. Their great grandfather and Sam's great grandfather were brothers.

Sam spoke to Young High School's Year 10 students, and afterwards Sam and Jenny met (l-r) Georgia Parkinson, Jordan Darnley, April Caldow and Year 10 Advisor and teacher, Ben Cooper.

Sam and Jenny visited St Mary's Primary School in Young on May 29. They are pictured with school captains Georgia Curry and Beau Shoard.

Visit to The Southport School...

Sam and Jenny visited The Southport School (TSS) at the Gold Coast on Monday, May 19, where Sam spoke to the boarders. He's pictured above with his Godson, David Donaldson (right), from Croppa Creek, who introduced him on the night; and family friends, Dougal and Will McColl, from Goondiwindi.

(BELOW LEFT): Former Wallaby, Greg Cornelson (who has been named amongst the top 100 rugby union players of all time) brought his son Jack, a day boy at TSS, along for Sam's talk on Monday evening. Sam and Greg both went to school at TAS (The Armidale School), and have remained friends ever since.

(BELOW): Sam with Rosemary and John Wallace. John, Director of Boarding at TSS and House Master of Biddle House, organised Sam's visit. His wife Rosemary is a teacher's aid at the prep school.

Kings, Knox, Tara and Riverview

During May Sam and Jenny visited and Sam spoke at four GPS schools in Sydney...including The Kings School; St Ignatius College Riverview; Knox Grammar School and Tara Anglican School for Girls. They are pictured above with Alistair Cadell from Gunnedah and Maddison Joyce from Sydney at The King's School, where Sam spoke on Wednesday morning, May 7.

On Wednesday, May 7, Sam spoke to boarders at St Ignatius College, Riverview. He's pictured above with students Jordan Cosh from Moree and CJ Grogan from Darwin. CJ is one of Australia's leading junior wheelchair basketballers...with his eyes set firmly on a place in the 2012 Paralympic team. We wish him all the best.

 

(ABOVE) Sam is pictured with the boys he spoke to at Knox Grammar School on Thursday night, May 8.   (LEFT) Sam with Knox Grammar School teachers Nathan Shute and Bob Anderson.

 

On May 9 we spoke to students at Tara Anglican School for Girls. We're pictured (left to right) with Natasha Pesce, Belinda White, Jacqui Healy, Shannon Powell, Aimee Parkinson, Amber Boydell, Harriet Symons and Felicity Wainwright.

Radford College students try wheelchairs

On March 28 we visited and Sam spoke to Year 9 students at Radford College in Bruce, Canberra. Sam is pictured (above) with students who volunteered to use wheelchairs at school in an effort to better understand the challenges facing people with disabilities. They all agreed they learnt a lot from the experience and gained a valuable insight into the challenges of getting around in a wheelchair. The students include (front, l-r) Max Grieve, Jason Daly, Sarah Lonsdale, Elizabeth Gay; (back, l-r) Paul Faragher, Jordan Davies, Anna Tilley, Rachel Barnsley, Tom Dyke, Laura Sofoulis, Matt Armstrong, Paige Enright, Erin Townsend and Jessie Jia. The visit came about due to Sam's friendship with Richard Browning, the school chaplain. Sam and Richard (pictured below) attended The Armidale School (TAS) in Armidale together and Richard featured in our book "Head Over Heels".

Sam speaks to Lachlan Valley schools

On March 27 Sam spoke to students from all three schools in Harden, including Murrumburrah High School. He's pictured with vice-captain Kayla Daley and Year 12 student, Kimberley Summerfield.

On March 26 we visited Boorowa to speak to schools there. Sam is pictured with students at St Joseph's Primary School after speaking to them.

Sam spoke to some of the students at Forbes High School on March 25. He's pictured with Principal Craig Petersen and captains Amy Whitfield and Rhys Woods. The visit to the area was sponsored by Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (CMA).

Pictured above with Brother John Hilet, Principal of Red Bend Catholic College; and school captains Sarah Sweeney and Rodney Duncan. Sam spoke to the entire school on March 25 while visiting Forbes.

Visiting Melrose schools

Sam and Jenny visited schools in the Melrose area in early February 2008. They spoke to students from Melrose and Wilmington at Melrose Public School, then visited and spoke to students at Booleroo Central School. Melrose is 270 kilometres north of Adelaide in South Australia and is the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges.

 

Students from Melrose and Wilmington public schools with Sam. Melrose Public School principal, Ruth Robertson, is pictured at the right of the photo.

Sam receiving a gift and vote of thanks from Chelsea McDonough (left) and Tahlia Woolford (centre) after speaking at the Booleroo Centre District School. We've heard all the students in Years 6/7 have already put their names down to read the copy of Head Over Heels we donated to their library!

BUY THE BOOK

Head Over Heels a best seller!! Read an extract from the book.

FOLLOW US

CONTACT SAM

Click here to send an email to Sam and Jenny

TESTIMONAL

"As a recent high school graduate and a ridiculously fussy reader, I stumbled across your book in our bookshelf (I was supposed to be cleaning my room!!). Your humble determination and courage in overcoming adversity is truly inspirational in conquering all of life's problems - great and small. The book was that great I even took it to schoolies week!" - Melanie McKinnis

JEN'S GALLERY

See more of Jenny's art...

Website Design   |   iSmart Content Management