ABC Online Indigenous - Local Heroes

Sereako Treloggen

Year 12, Tully State High School, QLD

Added: Monday 18 August , 2008

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Born with cerebral palsy who would imagine that Sereako Treloggen could achieve his goal of completing high school. Now a year twelve student at Tully High north QLD Sere say's he just wants to be treated like a normal teenager.
Age	17
Language Group Area/s
Home	Tully, North QLD
Occupation / Pastime	Full-time student
Favourite place	Being with family and friends and going to the Torres Strait Islands.
Hobbies	Being a normal teenager - loud music, parties, discos/dancing, girls and more girls!!!
Inspiration	Uncle Pedro in the Torres Strait because he is a leader and talks to all people. Also, my carers Uncle John and Aunty Gloria because they want the best for me.
Favourite Saying / Quote	Hey Boy!!! & 'Never give up'
	‘A Letter from Sere’ I was born with cerebral palsy. I didn’t know what it was like when I was little. Then, later, I remember how I couldn’t do a lot of the things my sister and cousins could do and I just watched them. Running and playing and talking properly. I was three or four and still couldn’t walk. When they took me out in a stroller they had to be very careful playing around me. But I had fun, laughing. I had to always have someone there all the time to keep an eye on me, but they had other things to do. My mother was busy too. I remember my great-grandparents, may Aka and Athe, looking after me. But they were old and couldn’t walk properly either. Uncle John and Aunty Gloria came into my life when I was nearly five and they became my second family. They showed me that even if I’m in a wheelchair, I can still do other things. They taught me to do things I never did before and to be a bit more independent. They loved me for who I am. We went everywhere in the community and travelled to places and met different people. Primary school on T.I. [Thursday Island] was great. I later saw other little kids with disabilities. But the kids at school made friends with me. The teachers and teachers’ aides helped a lot. I went to spend a week’s holiday with one of the teachers’ aides and her family. Uncle, Aunty and I moved to Tully in 1999, their family became my family. They treated me with love and kindness. They didn’t see the wheelchair or me being disabled, they saw me as just a normal boy. In 2000, I was in Grade 4 at Tully Primary School and I made friends with some boys and we all went to high school. I started to overcome my disability. Mr Chandler was a friend as well as a teacher. He helped me a lot. High school was a really big step. I was now a teenager and my hormones were playing up and I had a different attitude. I was no longer a little boy. I hated my wheelchair and disability. The boys were doing lots of things I wanted to do, but couldn’t. Play soccer, football, run and swim and splash in the pool. Later I saw them with girlfriends and dancing with them at school socials. I hated my wheelchair and disability more, but some would dance around me. Along came very good friends and buddies who treated me like a normal boy, and push me about in the wheelchair when my power chair broke down. My power chair is forever breaking down and I get very frustrated and lose my temper very quickly. But there was always someone there to push me around to classes. Tully High has taught me so much about different things. I have great respect for the Tully community. I have made some great friends, both boys and girls, over the years. And they will be in my thoughts forever. Uncle and Aunty taught me to respect others and to have respect for myself. I have met other people with cerebral palsy and some are worse than me, so I should be very thankful. Disability service is always there when I need them. Tully High has helped and supported me in so many ways. The teachers and teachers’ aides are the best. I respect them. To the boys who became my buddies and friends, I will never, ever forget them. Two of them told me I have a great life ahead of me and to not let anyone put me down. Thank you Regan for always being there for me and thanks to the other guys too. Thank you to Tully High. If I can do it, so can other students. We are all here for a reason. I believe I’m in a wheelchair for a reason. Sere’s story in his own words (with a little help from his Aunty Gloria) End

More Information	Just because I'm in a wheelchair, doesn't mean I can't understand you, I'm just like any other teenager. I believe I'm here for a reason, to help other disabled people. I get a lot of respect at this school. I try not to let my disability get me down. Torres Strait family never thought I would complete Year 12. When you're on the islands you feel very peaceful.
Author	Miriam Corowa, Producer Message Stick

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Comments (4)

Noreen
13 Oct 2008 12:45:06pm
What an inspiration you are Sere!! Good on you for achieving your goal to finish year 12. Hopefully this will inspire or urge more of our young Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander to further their education which is very much needed in our society today. Again CONGRATS!!!!!

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Tim
11 Sep 2008 11:54:34am
Good on you Sere, you're a true champion and indeed an inspiration. Your attitude is a great lesson for all those (or us!) that regularly complain of trivial things. I hope I have the privilege of meeting you someday, and I wish you the very best in your ambitions.

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Kayte Gillinder
22 Aug 2008 9:00:54pm
Sere has been an inspiration to so many already. I hope that he can follow his dreams and become a motivational speaker. It has been a pleasure to work with Sere and he will be greatly missed at school next year. Good luck in your endeavours Sere.

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keryn archer
22 Aug 2008 3:41:21pm
Congratulations Sere, you're a hero to us all! Your smiling and cheerful face brightens the day of everyone you meet. You're a real champion Sere and will live in the minds and hearts of all those who have contact with you. Onward and upward mate, but we'll miss you when you leave.

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