Media Contact: Ben Ruse
0407 030 808
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Statement
BILL SHORTEN MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services
Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Statement on the death of Tasmanian disability
advocate Mary Guy
I would like to acknowledge the immense contribution to the lives of people with
disability made by Tasmanian disability activist Mary Guy, who passed away on
Tuesday.
Ms Guy spent her life continually and forcefully fighting for the rights of people with
disability to be treated as individuals and to be included in the community.
She was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 and is on the Tasmanian Honour Roll
of Women. In 2008 National Disability Services (Tasmania) recognised her as a
Champion for Disability and I had the great privilege of meeting her to present this
award.
Mary Guy became a quadriplegic after contracting polio at the age of eight but this
did not prevent her from a career in disability services and a lifetime of advocating for
the rights of people with disability.
She helped secure Government recognition of the need for in-home support for people
with a disability and was instrumental in establishing new programs enhancing
independence.
She has worked on numerous issues including community awareness, access, building
codes, transport, education and discrimination.
Her courage at fighting against prejudice was an inspiration to many people, and her
legacy will be the better conditions she fought to establish for people with disability.
Mary Guy was a long-serving member of Glenorchy City Council, and was an early
advocate of many of the principles of inclusion and access for people with disability
that are now reflected in mainstream policy.
She was also involved in the work of many non-government organisations including
Cosmos Recreational Services, Community Based Support and National Disability
Services
She pioneered many of the principles that are now embedded in the UN Convention
of the Rights of Persons with Disability. Her drive and accomplishments challenged
people’s preconceptions of what people with disability are capable of, and have made
it easier for the disability advocates who came after her.
Media Contact: Ben Ruse
0407 030 808
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