ON Friday 4 September Tina Demetri will jump out of an aeroplane, strapped onto tandem skydiving instructor Jimmy Callaghan from Coffs Skydiving.
They pair will be aiming for Park Beach, adjacent to the surf club, on the Coffs Harbour coastline, landing at 11am.
For Tina this is a birthday treat to herself, having never been able to jump since being diagnosed with polio aged 20 months.
While she is over-the-moon about the jump, she expects a little excited apprehension as she looks out of the plane door, but is looking forward to sailing through the air, knowing she is safe in God’s hands, and instructor Jimmy’s expertise, she told News Of The Area.
“When the doctors told my parents I had polio they said, ‘don’t expect too much from me’ but I have had the most wonderful life and have lived to the full with my husband and two children,” Tina said.
“I’d like people to know that because you have a disability it doesn’t make you less of a person, in my mind it makes you more of a person, we make our own special place.”
Tina believes in seeing what we have rather than what we lack and chooses happiness every morning.
Born in Essex in England in 1946, Tina’s birth was before polio vaccines were available.
“I have belonged to Polio Australia for many years and we are very aware, especially since the Covid vaccine controversy, that people are petrified of vaccines and say they don’t want to put their baby in danger.
“They think polio doesn’t exist, but it does.
“The polio vaccine is an older one, not quickly concocted,” she said.
Today Tina has Post Polio Syndrome which is a normal graduation as a person with the disease ages.
Her arm’s reach has diminished and her walking is unstable.
“I’ve always managed around the house but now I have what I call my office chair which I’m using to get around inside the house.”
She rides in a motorised chair outside, blazoned with orange.
“Orange is the colour chosen to represent polio so I’m asking anyone who wants to come out and watch my jump to gather on the beach wearing orange, or at least bright colours.”
Tina is hoping for a good turnout to celebrate her eight decades of joyful living.
By Andrea FERRARI
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