Our story - our family
by Frances and Anthony Hunter
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The Hunter family outside their cabin at the Cooinda Family camp 2003
How do you put your family story into a brief summary? Our family is Dad - Anthony, Mum - Frances, Children - Oliver 8, Spencer 6, Harrison 4, and Felix 2. We all live together in Howlong NSW where we run a 7 day a week on course golf shop.
Life in our family is constantly busy and like most others a roller coaster of emotions. Oliver our oldest has Cerebral Palsy (Spastic Diplegia) thus our connection to Cooinda and the world of Special needs. "How on earth do you manage?" people ask. I am yet to come up with a witty response that won't offend. I think to myself: with great difficulty, most times but we just do. Sometimes crying on the inside and saving face with a brave smile on the outside.
We don't "manage" - we live our life the best way we know how. We love going to Bright, Victoria and playing in the park; we love swimming at the local pool; we even make the most out of the many trips to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. Yes we get upset and angry — why do we have a child with a disability? Why does our life revolve around that disability? From the type of house we live in, to the type of car we drive, to where can we visit that we can take a wheelchair. It's all challenging and takes a lot of creative thinking to balance everything - not equally but to livable portions.
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Oliver at the Cooinda Family camp 2003
We love each other and all learn from each others' special needs and talents. We've realised you don't neccesarily have to have a disability to have special needs. We drive each other crazy at times and get too loud, but thats us. It's the way we are.
When I grow up
My name is Oliver Hunter and I am 8 years old. I live with my Dad, Mum and three brothers Spencer, Harrison and Felix. We live in Howlong NSW.
When I grow up I will be a football commentater and a coach. The team I will coach is Richmond Tigers. I like football because there is tackling.
Other sports I like are cricket, basketball, tennis and swimming and I really like playing these with my brothers and my friends. I want to get good at these sports so I can go to the wheelchair Olympics.
I would also like to be a rock and roll star because then I would get to play an electric guitar and then I could be in a real live band. Then I could act like Elvis it will be really good fun moving from place to place, going on lots of trips on planes and boats and trains and taxis too. When I am on my trips I will not have to worry about my three brothers it will be really good I will get to go all around the world.
Because I am in a wheelchair and go to the Royal Childrens Hospital a lot I have met some great people like Captain Starlight, Melbourne Storm Players and The Wiggles and I went to Captain Starlight's Birthday party. THE END
Spencer's story
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A drawing by Oliver and Spencer about the Cooinda Family camp, 2003
My name is Spencer Hunter. I am 6 years old. I live in Howlong.
I like playing Football and soccer and I practise soccer outside.
I have three brothers Oliver, Harrison and Felix. I have two Grandmothers and Grandfathers and two Great Nans and one Great Pa. I love to go and stay with my cousins Daniel and Lydia on their farm. I like the Cooinda Camp. I like seeing the clown Pico. He is funny.
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