How netball and the Australian Defence Force forever changed my view of ANZAC Day
Last week I had the pleasure of looking after the Australian Defence Force (ADF) team during the Australian Netball Championships, held in Melbourne at the[NK1] . I was in charge of injuries for the Men’s and mixed teams along with their Medic Adam (physician’s assistant), who had recently returned from his deployment in Afghanistan. He said he can stop bleeding but sports injury management fell into my domain. I was happy on both counts!
It was an amazing week full of action in the medical rooms, with an array of acute and chronic injuries to take care of. Injuries varied from rib fractures, back pain, hamstring strains, shoulder pain and ankle injuries. There was never a dull moment.
On a professional level, the week was extremely rewarding. I was able to also direct the players I treated to some functional rehabilitation with appropriate exercises that they could keep up with in their own work place.
We shared medical rooms with six teams from NSW and their physio Michael. Both Michael and I had a chance to help each other and work together in order to manage the morning rush of strapping, massaging and adjusting. By the end of the week the ‘sports chiropractic’ message was out there loud and clear and the ADF team manager made a comment that “we also need to consider sports chiropractors in the future for our teams!”
Even though this was a whirlwind 80-hour week on a professional level, I walked away having grown a newfound respect and mindfulness for the ADF. I spent plenty of time getting to know men and women from our defence force, a career path, which sounds so rewarding yet, we often forget the commitment, which is required by these individuals when they are deployed.
The stories I heard about their time spent overseas were unbelievable. ANZAC Day in 2013 and beyond, for me, will be more meaningful, respected and honoured than those passed.
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