LAWSON RANKIN

Ms JODIE HARRISON(Charlestown)After a horror scooter crash in Bali, young Lawson Rankin was left fighting a severe traumatic brain injury. Doctors weren't certain he would survive, or what deficits he might struggle with if he did. Lawson, with the help of his family and friends and the support of our local community, is defying the odds. He has relearnt how to eat and speak, he is walking again, and he has big plans for the future Lawson intends to get back out on the footy field and go to university. A fundraising campaign brought in a whopping $200,000 from the community, and thankfully his family was able to organise a medevac and bring him home to Australia to get him started on his road to recovery. I acknowledge Lawson's mum and dad Phillip and Therese, and to the hard-working staff both in Bali and here in Australia, including at the John Hunter Hospital, Rankin Park Centre, and the Hunter Brain Injury Service, for their support. I would like to congratulate Lawson on his hard work and extraordinary achievements thus far. I wish him all the best and look forward to seeing what this remarkable young man will accomplish.



A Community Recognition Statement is an opportunity for an MP to give a short speech praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Statement, please email and let me know!