The story of the Johnstons

Liverpool and

Aussie

soccer icon Craig Johnston became a Headstart Ambassador many years after his sister Faye’s brain injury prompted his early retirement from football. Sue McHattie recalls some of the early moments.

“Ireceived a call from Dorothy Johnston in 1987. I didn’t really know Craig because I wasn’t into soccer, but I could hear the desperation in Dorothy’s voice after their experience. She was exhausted. Her daughter Faye had sustained a severe brain injury and at that stage they had no supports whatsoever.

Dorothy was trying to piece everything together because back then it was very hard to get packages for people with ABI. I then rang my contacts at ADHC and they were absolutely terrific. They didn’t know about the connection to Craig and him being a soccer great.

By talking and combining forces we were able to get a very small package together to employ someone to support Dorothy and do some overnights to give her a break. Our contact with the family continued on until 2013 when NDIS came in, and Faye was one of the ones who transitioned across to NDIS, and Dorothy was still doing a Herculean job of caring for Faye.

Craig retired at just 27 and he then came back to Australia.

I thought ‘I remember you with the long curly hair and watching you play for Liverpool!’ My grandfather was English and a soccer fanatic. Craig was really supportive to his mum and sister Faye, to the point if giving up his illustrious soccer career in England.

No matter the situation, an ABI takes an enormous toll on families, whether it’s a severe situation like the Johnston’s or one less visible. We just continued supporting Faye and the family over the years before Craig became a Headstart ambassador. The Johnston’s are such a determined, strong, and resilient family. Craig’s effort to make the Liverpool first team for so many years was testament to this determination to succeed.

Brain injury in a family is often a very private thing, and some families suffer terribly. Faye’s injury was severe, and when people see Faye they see a woman physically challenged by her injury, unable to communicate in the usual ways.

But if one takes the time to get to know Faye and look past the immediate picture, you see the glimmer in her eyes for the people she likes, the smiles and the love for those close to her.

For many years Craig hadn’t really mentioned much publicly about Faye’s injury.

I’d asked Dorothy previously whether Craig might consider becoming an ambassador. When Craig moved back from America a few years ago he was ready and came to us, so it was like ‘here we go!’

Craig is understandably very emotional and continues to have hope for Faye as the years pass.

We’re excited that Craig is a Headstart ambassador, and at the same time our support for Faye continues. Today Faye has some really great mainstay workers who she loves almost as much as she loves Elvis!”

- Sue McHattie, Headstart CEO