17 October 2016
3
A Star News Group Publication
The case for and against change on Casey Council
SPORT
Covering Endeavour Hills, Doveton & Hallam
David Hussey signs up for DDCA T20 season
â âBroken but not bowed, worker recalls the impact of critical injuryâŚ
Working wounded By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Jason McDonald flanked by workmates Dan Young, Quin Griffin, Chris Harvey, Tony OâDonovan and Billy Morrison. 160293 were always looking out for me. A few times I said to them Iâll be right.â With the help of a case manager and occupational rehabilitation provider, he was forced to take routine half-hour breaks to manage his heavy fatigue. He was diligently attending to up to four days of intensive rehabilitation sessions a week to heal his physical and mental demons. âIt was pretty hard when youâre strong-willed like I am to take orders from doctors that you donât know. âBut I realised they know this stuff better than I do.â It was a new situation for his proud boss Mr
OâDonovan â who applied his maxim of matching his workersâ tasks to their capabilities. His recollection of the crash is vivid. Workers were wondering why Mr McDonald wasnât back from his lunch break, why police had closed local roads and a helicopter was hovering over the scene. The obvious and horrific conclusion soon dawned on Mr OâDonovan. Then he made that difficult call to Mr McDonaldâs wife. âI believe heâs going to be OK but heâs gone by air ambulance to The Alfred,â Mr OâDonovan told her. More than a year later, when asked what he learnt through all this, Mr OâDonovan said:
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
âNothing is guaranteed.â The silver lining for his fully-recovered worker Mr McDonald is that he is becoming more selfaware. He uses meditation to help manage the moodiness that descends as part of his injuries. The wake-up call has made him put more priority on his family. He pays tribute to his wife who carried a great extra burden. To this day, he has not been able to resume karate with his two daughters â and is not sure if he ever will. âIâm focusing on the important things in life. You never know whatâs around the corner.â 12325111-40-16
Jason McDonaldâs boss describes it as a âbloody horrible accidentâ. Soon after Mr McDonald left on a lunch run, he was critically injured when he was a passenger in a crash with a parked truck on Wedgewood Road, Hallam. He had taken the brunt of the impact â and who knew if and when he was going to return to his workplace Seelite Windows and Doors just 200 metres away. As police cordoned off the scene he was stretchered into an air ambulance and flown to The Alfredâs Intensive Care Unit. He had multiple fractures throughout his left side, a broken neck, internal bleeding and a serious head injury. At that stage â in June 2015 â Seelite production manager Tony OâDonovan was trying to calm his voice as he delivered the unsettling news to Mr McDonaldâs wife. On 7 October this year, his worker was recognised as a finalist in the Worker Return to Work Achievement category in this yearâs Worksafe Awards. It recognised Mr McDonaldâs brave road back with the immense support of his employer, workmates, family and a crew of rehab helpers. Before his return, Mr McDonald had itchy feet. He says he hates sitting still â something he had to do a lot while recuperating at his Ringwood East home. He was restricted to a two-kilo lifting limit which barred him from even the most simple chores such as unpacking the washing machine, mowing the lawns or vacuuming. âI was ready to just sticky-tape my arm and come back,â he said. He made the decision to return to Seelite with his insurerâs reluctant blessing just three months after the crash â 12 weeks ahead of schedule. He initially worked for two hours a week on light duties, with breaks every 30 minutes. Within a year, he was back at basically full capacity and had successfully re-tested for his driverâs licence. Looking back, Mr McDonald remembers nothing of the accident. Even his first few gentle days back at work â initially just two hours a week â were a bit of a haze. âWhen I got back, people (in the workshop)
1126426-MB13-14
FACTORY DIRECT BLINDS FOR LESS 15 exclusively optioned Vito Vans.
30-32 Victor Cres Narre Warren 3805
BRING IN YOUR HOUSE PLANS LYNDALE PHARMACY 68 Menzies Ave, Dandenong North. Ph 9792 1789
WWW.IMPACTBLINDSANDCURTAINS.COM.AU
PH 97056366
Mercedes-Benz Berwick 518 Princes Hwy, Berwick (15 mins from Dandenong) 03 8794 0900 | www.mbberwick.com.au LMCT578
HOME & RESIDENTIAL MEDICATION SUPPORT
1224483-HM18-16
1236888-31-16
Blinds & Curtains