State Street Overcoming the Odds Award
Anyone who has participated in Oxfam TRAILWALK ER - the annual team endurance event that raises millions of dollars for Oxfam Australia - knows the true meaning of the words "challenge" and "commitment".
For the sixth consecutive year, State Street, the principal sponsor of Oxfam TRAILWALKER, presented its "Overcoming the Odds" award . The award honours an individual who has overcome personal adversity to participate in this demanding but inspiring event. The winner receives a $500 cash prize and will have a $4,500 donation from the State Street Foundation made to an Oxfam program of their choice.
2008 Overcoming the Odds Award winner, Phill Wade
Phjill Wade (right) recognised for “Overcoming the Odds” by Chris Field, from Award sponsors, State Street. Photo: Kate O'Rourke/OxfamAUS
The 2008 Overcoming the Odds award was presented to Phill Wade from Vega Press (Team 571 – Vega 3).
Here is Phill’s story as told by one of his team mates:
“Phill is 65 years old, a father of 3 and the General Manager of Vega Colour Group, a commercial printing company in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Phill’s leadership, persistence and passion for Oxfam TRAILWALKER has seen Vega enter 3 teams in each of the last 3 events, raising over $50,000 along the way.
While training for the 2007 Oxfam TRAILWALKER, Phill found himself unusually short of breath half way up the 1,000 stairs. A couple of us walkers who were with him, finally convinced the stubborn mule to go get it checked out. As it turns out, he was lucky to be given the warning signs and it wasn’t long before Phill was in hospital getting a triple bypass.
Before the surgery, after the surgery (and probably during the surgery too), all the doctors and nurses were warned “I must be ready to walk with the team in 2008”.
After the surgery, against his family’ s wishes, our 65 year old General Manager, walked numerous laps of his local footy field daily (almost immediately after being released from the hospital), stumbled to the track in 2007 to support his team, and did everything he could to start preparing himself for the 2008 event. To this day we are still not sure if his doctors knew what he planned to do, but I doubt that they could have stopped him anyway.
One year later, he did exactly what he set out to do. The rest of us in team Vega are young(ish), and find the 100km task overwhelming. I think I can speak for most people that if I had a triple bypass, I would certainly have used that as a perfectly good excuse to take it easy for a while and not have to compete in such events. Instead, Phill decided that having the surgery and being 65 was no reason to not walk. In fact, I'd say that the 100km challenge was a major reason for him to recover as quickly and strongly as he did.
Phill, along with the rest of team Vega not only took part in the 100km event, but made it to the f inish line together as a complete team of four. As per all team members, he had his moments of weaknesses and strengths, but showed no signs of ill health . As in previous years, he was the main link to our team, and throughout his struggles always encouraged and pushed the rest of the team to the end of each check point.”
Phill’s program pick:
Gaining a voice: Improving gender rights and community mobilisation
East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Working in some of the poorest and most remote parts of Papua New Guinea, this project is promoting gender rights; improving sexual health, in particular HIV prevention and care; and improving livelihoods for local communities.
This project aims to:
- Creatively engage and inform remote communities about key social and economic information that matters in their lives, using radio programs, theatre, song and dance, internet and other forms of mixed media.
- Train and support local students, community activists and development workers who are working with their communities to promote Gender and Human Rights, Sexual Health, Livelihoods, Community Mobilization and Good Governance.
- Strengthen partnerships between Oxfam Australia’s partner organisation and other community groups and government leaders who are working to promote gender, human rights and livelihoods, drawing on each other for ideas, best-practice examples, as well as sharing their successes and challenges.
This project will continue to create lasting change and improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in rural Papua New Guinea.
The Oxfam Trailwalker Team would like to congratulate Phill and all the other amazing people who in some way, overcame the odds to take part in Oxfam TRAILWALKER.
