Debbi Gray came to the Snowy River Campus yesterday, on the day that I was student leader! It was awesome. The glow and the energy that she emitted were incredible, and she inspired a lot of us. I should start this off by briefly saying who Debbi is. Debbi is a woman who was born without arms… none what so ever, this meant that she had to learn to live life without hands, but with feet instead. She stated that when she was little, her mother’s friend dropped by with a present for the baby… a rattle, she had no clue that the child was born without arms, but Debbi, as a baby, reached up with her feet and grabbed the rattle, just like you or me would have with arms, she did with feet.

Debbi talked to us all about her life, living without arms, becoming a mother, a rally car driver and going skydiving, all against the odds of her ever achieving anything without special assistance. She also spoke to us about the discrimination and the bullying that she received at school, and in the workplace, which was monumental, compared to any of us.

Debbi inspired tolerance in all of us. She proved yesterday that we can’t judge or assume anything in anyone. And for that I thank Debbi.

Tom - Maffra Secondary College