Australia seems to have more than its fair share of gritty,
independent and determined characters. Perhaps it is a function of the land,
which dictates that Australians occupy the periphery, the coastline, leaving the heartland of
their country unpopulated. Or maybe it is a result of being alone on the edges of several oceans,
distant from any other developed country (with the exception of its distant
cousin, New Zealand). Whatever the cause,
there is a sense of isolation in Australia that produces men and women who are
strong, forthright and resolute.
Clyde Campbell is one of them. Although he may have you
believe that he is just another one of the "mates" who share a beer
or two (or more) after a rough game of rugby, his personal history says
otherwise. I met Clyde at a filming of a video to be used to promote his latest
passion, the pursuit of a cure for Parkinson's disease, in which he had asked
me to play a part. As with most Australians, he was welcoming and personable,
sharing his big smile and a strong handshake. Despite his friendliness and the repartee
that we shared, he remained focused on the production's agenda for the evening.
I quickly realized that whether it was running, skiing, hiking, or spending
time with his wife, son, Josh and two daughters, Phoebe and Zoe, he pursued the
important things in his life with a driveness that reflected his years of
successfully slugging it out in the robotics business.
Now 46, Clyde was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease almost
3 years ago. After a short time to process the consequences of the diagnosis,
he pinpointed with engineering precision the place to pour any energies and funds not required by his business or family. Consistent with the goal of solving the
problem of Parkinson's, he met Michael J Fox, established a liaison with the
MJF Foundation, and started his own family foundation, Shake It Up Australia.
During the times when neither of us was involved in the taping, we had easy
conversation about our common enemy, PD. Although the paths by which we got
there were very different, we had a great deal in common and committed to stay
in touch.
Very different from Clyde, Chris Davis is another
of Australia's "everyday heroes". As president of the New South Wales
Parkinson's Association, he leads a quiet campaign to improve the lot of those
who live with Parkinson's disease. He is accommodating and hospitable (he and
his wife, Pam, having put us up in their home for the time we spent in Sydney),
while at the same time decidedly committed to wage war on the devastating
disease he was diagnosed with some seven years ago. Selflessly and without
fanfare, he seeks to marshal the state’s and country's Parkinson's community, promoting cooperation and
coordination with all of the key stakeholders. His engineering background has
given him a measured and well-designed approach to problem-solving, in addition
to his balanced and affable attitude in dealing with the diversity of
personalities involved.
Although self-employed and working as a part-time water consultant,
Chris spent an enormous amount of time planning my visit to Australia,
arranging trips to various Parkinson's research facilities, meeting with
neurologists and scientists, as well as setting up speaking engagements.
Not just arranging, but personally attending these meetings, Chris showed an
unrivaled dedication to and support of the "Shake up My World" tour.
Lacking any personal credibility in this part of the world, I was accepted by Chris at face value and he promoted my efforts as if they were his own. I gained not just a comrade in arms, but a friend.
In Australia they have what is called the tall poppies syndrome.
It is the practice of pulling down successful people in Australian society on
the basis of some perceived or actual fault or flaw. In a society that pulls
down the "tall poppies", leadership is undertaken at high risk.
However, leadership is essential if society is to address injustice and the
needs of the vulnerable. It is through responsible leadership by men like Chris and
Clyde that the needs of those facing the challenges of Parkinson's disease are
being addressed in Australia. It is through the perseverance of such leaders that we will
see a cure for Parkinson's to alleviate suffering by future generations.