A Berkeley woman who had to reinvent herself after a devastating stroke 16 years ago has been named the winner of a prestigious award in Melbourne.
Rebecca Schmidt-Lachlan won the Courage Award at the 2024 Stroke Awards.
Rebecca was only 26 at the time of her stroke. She spent the next seven months in rehab, learning how to talk, walk, swallow and write again.
She now uses her own experience to inspire others and is passionate about advocacy and inclusion.
Rebecca was the driving force behind a $25 million upgrade at Unanderra Train Station. She lobbied for eight years to see lifts installed to ensure people of all abilities could access the platform.
Rebecca has also written a book about her experience and regularly donates her time to share her story with businesses, community groups and schools.
The Stroke Awards celebrate the unsung heroes in our community who go above and beyond to improve the lives of Australians affected by stroke. This includes the survivors of stroke, carers, volunteers, fundraisers, health professionals and researchers and members of the community.
The Courage Award recognises the courage and hope shown by survivors and carers in stroke recovery.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy congratulated Rebecca on all that she has achieved.
"Rebecca has been a tireless advocate for both Stroke Foundation, and her own community. The work she does is making a difference and the reason these awards exist," Dr Murphy said.
"Rebecca is demonstrating incredible courage, implementing change and creating awareness in her community. We're so grateful to have her support."
The finalists for the Courage Award were:
- Rebecca Schmidt-Lachlan - New South Wales
- Michael Denehy - Queensland
- John O'Dowd - Victoria
There are eight categories in total: Warrior, Improving Life After Stroke, Creative, Courage, First Nations Stroke Excellence, Fundraiser of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and President's Achievement.
The 2024 Stroke Awards are supported by Medtronic, Abbvie, Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), Ipsen, , NAB, Precision Connect and Worrells.
