This year’s Young Australia Day ambassador is Paralympic gold medallist and former World Champion Lindy Hou.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lindy won gold in the women’s tandem sprint at the Athens Paralympics in 2004, she also collected two silver medals and a bronze medal.
Lindy suffers from an eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa and is almost fully blind.
She started losing her eyesight during the 1980s.
READ ALSO: Change to league-tag carnival in 2019
Born in Hong Kong, Lindy dreamed as a child of standing on the Olympic podium with a gold medal around her neck.
“Winning those medals in Athens proved to me that anyone can, with hard work, dedication and a goal to achieve, fulfill their sweetest dreams” she said.
As her eyesight deteriorated during the 1990s, Lindy continued racing triathlons and represented Australia twice at Triathalon World Championships as an able-bodied athlete.
She was classed legally blind in 1996, and turned her focus to tandem cycling.
She narrowly missed selection for the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games Australia team, however, in 2004 at Athens, Lindy got her opportunity to fulfill her childhood dream, and she did.
“Australia is the land of opportunity and regardless of our backgrounds, we can still represent this country and be the best in the world,” Lindy said.
“To be able to wear the Australian uniform and stand on the podium in Beijing, the land of my ancestors is the essence of what being an Aussie is all about” said Lindy.
Lindy will speak at Carrington Park on Australia Day.
Young’s Citizen of the Year and Junior Citizen of the Year will be announced, along with Business and Environmental Award winners.
The NSW Rural Fire Service will present a long service medal.
Former Olympian and entrepreneur Ed Fernon will be at Harden and Wombat Australia Day ceremonies, while Donna Ciccia, the co-founder and a board director of Endometriosis Australia, will be at Boorowa.
Australia Day ceremonies begin with breakfasts at 8am in Young, Harden and Boorowa.
All day activities are planned at Wagenbah Oval at Wombat with an awards ceremony at 12.30pm.
Harden’s ceremony will be at Newson Park, while Boorowa’s is at Recreation Park.
