What does it mean to truly live, even when facing a life-altering diagnosis?This life affirming conversation with Wollongong lawyer, board director, mentor and well-known community connector Graham Lancaster cuts to the heart of the value of civic engagement.  Graham was recently recognised with the Medal for the Order of Australia for his service to the law, and to the Illawarra community.Nicky explores with Graham how his involvement in voluntary activities including the Apex club as a young man set him on a journey of helping others throughout his life.  Graham says that he lives by The Golden Rule - treating others as you would want to be treated by them, and explains that “when you help people, people will help you.”Graham talks about the recent life changing experience of receiving a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Motor Neurone Disease and how he has focused on taking charge of his situation as best he can, tapping in to knowledge and lived experience of others to research and understand his condition and make lifestyle changes to support his best chances, slow progression of the condition, maximise his life span, function and quality of life.  Graham explains his philosophy and mindset saying, “The way you think will govern every action in your day and if you think positively and you are doing things A) with a purpose and B) for others, that is going to keep you healthy, keep you living, keep you happy”.Graham talks about the importance, despite devoting so much of his time to others of also making time for himself to recharge.  Graham talks about his love of poetry and how this creative expressive activity has also helped him to cope with life’s challenges.Graham’s sense of humour, warmth and humanity shines through in this meaningful and hopeful conversation that demonstrates how we are all part of community and how the things we do make an impact on others.Links and Resources: ·         Illawarra Mercury Article - Wollongong lawyer Graham Lancaster's career of giving back honoured with AM | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW·         About MND - What is motor neurone disease (MND)?·         Yerbury Lab - Yerbury LabAcknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country. We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit:"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Ver todos los episodios