Life-support quadriplegic Perry Cross becomes a Member of the Order of Australia

Perry, who grew up on the family farm at Wherrol Flat, this week became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to people living with a spinal cord injury, and as a role model.

Perry was 19, and attending university on the Gold Coast in 1994 when he suffered a spinal cord injury in a game of rugby. He was left a C2 ventilated quadriplegic, unable to walk, feel or breathe on his own and requiring medical care 24/7.

From this devastation, Perry was able to find a purpose in life, to pursue a cure for paralysis.

Just two years after his accident, he became a motivational speaker, Australia's first motivational speaker on life support, raising awareness of spinal injuries. That same year he was runner-up in the prestigious International Communicator of the Year Awards.

He has also been awarded the Suncorp Young Queenslander of the Year in 1997, was a finalist in the Young Australian of the Year in 1999 and named the Global Cure Warrior, Unite 2 Fight Paralysis in 2013.

He is a global ambassador for spinal cord repair research and a supporter of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. The late Christopher Reeve, who was best known for his role as Superman, suffered a the same spinal injury as Perry in 1995.

Perry met Christopher when he travelled to the United States as an advisor to the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of young Australians. Working with Christopher to raise awareness and the need for research inspired Perry to establish the Perry Cross Research Foundation in 2010 in Australia.

"When Christopher Reeve passed away we lost a friend and also our spokesperson, our figurehead. That was my inspiration to start the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation," Perry said.

"The Foundation was formed out of a need to have someone who was willing to speak out and remind the public about the usually-hidden cause of people suffering paraplegia and quadriplegia."

Perry still lives on the Gold Coast.

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