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6 APRIL, 2022
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Seymour takes flight
(Joe Mastroianni). 275060_01
A new children’s book has been released celebrating an iconic part of Williamstown’s history. ‘Seymour the Seaplane’ is written by Barbara Audas, who co-owns Melbourne Seaplanes with her husband Brett. The duo have operated the business for the past six and a half years, and have a deep passion for flying. It was this passion that sparked Mrs Audas’ desire to write a children’s book, with the central character, Seymour, based on The Spirit of Williamstown. “I have a little miniature seaplane down outside our terminal in Williamstown and I just saw how much delight it gave children, because some of the children come and sit in him if they’re small enough, and twirl the propeller around,” she said. The lockdowns during 2020 and 2021 were tough for Melbourne Seaplanes, which rely on tourists. “It was very tough for us, especially as you know, in the tourism sector, and also just being stuck at home like everybody,” Mrs Audas said. The book can purchased at www. melbourneseaplanes.com.au/ Barbara Audas has just released her new children’s book Seymour the Seaplane.
Appeal for amputee mum By Molly Magennis When Williamstown mother Kerrilie Rice dropped her daughter off at kindergarten for the first day of the year, she expected she would be there again at the end of the day to pick her up. However, a simple walk on the beach with her friend would prove life changing. It was January 6 and Kerrilie was walking along a rocky section of the Williamstown dog beach. All of a sudden, after placing her foot on a rock covered with seaweed, she slipped, smashed her knee and cut a crucial artery that ran along the back of her leg.
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She was rushed to hospital, where she had multiple surgeries to try and repair the artery. However, the muscles in the bottom half of her leg and foot had already started to die. She was given two options – endure four more operations to keep her leg which would never be properly functional again, or receive an above-the-knee amputation. She chose the latter. “I just said I don’t see what’s the point of having a dead leg,” Kerrilie said. “It probably took maybe two weeks or 10 days or something but I just said this at the beginning and I’m confirming it now, I want an amputation. I could not see a reason not to
do it.” Kerrilie had left her three-year-old daughter at home with partner Meg, whom Kerrilie had been caring for full time care since a major incident 11 years left Meg with brain damage. Prior to her own accident, Kerrilie had been in charge of running the family. “I do the shopping and run the household and we have a three and a half year old … so I do the vast majority of the physical parenting,” she said. “When Meg’s wheelchair gets damaged or she’s got pain and she needs a medical appointment, all of that, I do all of that.”
While Kerrilie has now left hospital and is in rehab, she has a long road ahead, one that is sure to be expensive. To help cover the many costs, including a prosthetic leg, a friend has set up a GoFundMe, which has already raised almost $18,000. While initially reluctant to accept help, Kerrilie is now grateful for all the people who have rallied around her and donated. “We’re so lucky to live where we do with people being so kind to us, and I think it will be the same when I go home.” Kerrilie’s friends hope to raise $30,000. Deatils: www.gofundme.com/f/givekerrilie-two-legs-for-a-full-and-caring-life
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