It is hard to imagine that an intelligent, twelve year old boy could be locked up for five years in an adult, male lunatic asylum, and emerge mentally unscathed. Bourke Gibbons, who was born with quadriplegia and spastic cerebral palsy, not only survived the ordeal and fought his way to independence but went on to represent Australia in the Paralympics and make an astonishing and meaningful contribution to his community.

Bourke’s eye witness account of life behind the walls of a NSW psychiatric institution in the 1950’s, is unique. There are no official records that tell this story from a patient’s perspective. He speaks for all those souls who were cast out by society, and suffered and died in such places.

Bourke’s story of a life lived in a wheelchair, will inspire you to get moving and achieve more with the sound body you have been given.