About Push the Limit

Shanon's Journey

“I believe acceptance starts in the home and is carried forward into preschool and the later years of schooling ahead…”

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Shanon’s story begins in 1977.

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Shortly after he was born, he was transferred from Paddington Women’s Hospital to Prince of Wales Hospital after being diagnosed with spina bifida. His parents, first-time parents, were told their newborn son was “in a bad way” and faced an impossible decision - comfort care or a 14-hour operation with no guarantees of survival.

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They chose surgery.

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Shanon survived - but was left paralysed from the neck down.

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Through years of rehabilitation, determination and unwavering support from his family, he gradually regained movement. He walked using callipers and crutches until the age of twelve. Following another operation that was unsuccessful, Shanon began using a wheelchair permanently.

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But his parents never defined him by his disability.

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They focused on his abilities.

Growing up - Inclusion and Exclusion

Shanon began his schooling in a specialist setting before transitioning into a mainstream public primary school - becoming the first and only student with a disability there at the time.

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Those years were challenging.

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He experienced physical and verbal bullying. He was called names. He was isolated. On one occasion, he was assaulted by other students.

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Yet despite this, he chose to stay.

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He had fought for the opportunity to be included in mainstream education, and he was determined not to lose it.

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Sport became his refuge.

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After being barred from playing local soccer due to complaints from other parents, Shanon discovered wheelchair sport. It became the place where he felt strong, capable and accepted. He represented his state in wheelchair racing and later went on to represent Australia internationally.

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Sport built confidence. It built resilience. It built identity.

The Turning Point

High school changed everything.

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At Peakhurst High School, inclusion was not treated as a burden - it was an expectation.

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Bullying was not tolerated. Disability awareness programs were embedded. Staff were trained. Facilities were accessible. Inclusion was reflected in the school’s culture and leadership.

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For the first time, Shanon experienced what true inclusion looked like.

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He thrived academically and socially. He participated fully. He was the first student with a disability to receive a CHS Blue. He represented Australia in wheelchair racing in the United States. He achieved academic success and built lifelong friendships.

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The difference wasn’t his ability.

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It was the environment.

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It was leadership.

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It was education.