Dr Lisa Murphy, the CEO of Stroke Foundation, wishes to thank the community for their interest and input to the annual Stroke Awards. She says the awards celebrate Australians for their care, courage, and achievements in this important field.
‘This year, the winner of the Courage Award left barely a dry eye in the house,’ said Dr Murphy.
‘The resilience shown by Victorian Nicole Gallacher who had a stillborn baby after her stroke in November 2020 was amazing to see. What made her accomplishment even more special is that she was joined on stage by her husband Dave, who nominated her for the award, and their newborn baby Angus, who was named after the neurosurgeons who saved her life.
‘Other 2023 Stroke Award winners include the inspirational young Noah Barlow who couldn’t attend the event, as he was in hospital. The 13-year-old Victorian boy was honoured for his tireless efforts in lobbying for accessible playgrounds at his local primary school and playground. A survivor of nine strokes and a huge Star Wars fan, I was among a group of Stroke Foundation representatives who were lucky enough to hand deliver Noah’s award to him, along with Darth Vader, Stormtroopers and Princess Leia herself. That was a moment both Noah and I won’t ever forget.
‘We also had the pleasure of recognising Queensland’s Douglas Hemming with a Creative Award. Doug found art after his lifechanging stroke. He had worked as a teacher for five decades, right up until the day before his stroke in May 2021.’
Inspiring experiences
‘The very personal stories of Nicole, Noah and Douglas were just a few of the awe-inspiring experiences we got to share in during our annual awards ceremony,’ said Dr Lisa Murphy.
‘They show courage, hope, resilience and are such a strong reminder of why we do what we do at the Stroke Foundation.
‘Nominees came from across Australia, and from all walks of life. It is always a joy to read their stories and meet the finalists at the event,’ she said.
‘There are 445,000 Australians living with the impact of stroke. That means there are people in every community who know exactly why stroke, awareness, treatment and recovery is so important, and the people who support those critical services are our heroes.
‘I hope to hear more stories of tenacity and achievements in our 2024 Stroke Awards, so please consider submitting a nomination to recognise and celebrate the people in your community.’
Dr Lisa Murphy
Chief Executive Officer, Stroke Foundation
