Miss-Delectable
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http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2006/03/03/1141191822845.html
FIFTEEN years after a cowardly pub assault robbed Warrnambool's Mark Gravolin of his hearing, the 36-year-old is preparing a deaf-defying run along Raglan Parade.
Mr Gravolin will carry the Queen's Baton from McDonald's central restaurant west to Macey's Bistro during leg eight of Sunday's route from Warrnambool to Hamilton.
``I really do feel like I'm running on behalf of all deaf people,'' he said yesterday.
In 1991, Mr Gravolin was involved in an assault at a pub in Croydon. ``I don't remember the incident,'' he said. ``Friends told me we went to the dance floor, I tapped a guy on the shoulder and he turned around and whacked me.
I fell back and hit my head on a railing.
``I had facial fractures and a skull fracture.
``The main consequence though was losing my hearing.''
Mr Gravolin said his hearing was very poor straight after the assault but then improved.
``Then I was in the Grampians one morning and realised my right ear wasn't working ... Six months later my left ear dropped out as well.''
Today Mr Gravolin has no hearing in his right ear and profound deafness in his left.
Employed as the Barwon South West co-ordinator for Deaf Access Victoria, Mr Gravolin nominated himself for the Queen's Baton Relay honour.
``It was about recognition and what I've been through,'' he said.
``My partner Sarah wanted to put my name in ... The closing date was getting close so I put it in. I've had a practise run along Raglan Parade on the footpath because I was a bit worried about how far it was but the distance was fine.
``I'll be a bit nervous on the day. Some people are coming from out of town to support me.''
Despite knowing and teaching sign language, Mr Gravolin communicates with a specially amplified telephone or face-to-face with individuals.
``I have a problem in crowds,'' he said. ``If I start heading the wrong way with the baton then I've obviously misheard something,'' he quipped.
FIFTEEN years after a cowardly pub assault robbed Warrnambool's Mark Gravolin of his hearing, the 36-year-old is preparing a deaf-defying run along Raglan Parade.
Mr Gravolin will carry the Queen's Baton from McDonald's central restaurant west to Macey's Bistro during leg eight of Sunday's route from Warrnambool to Hamilton.
``I really do feel like I'm running on behalf of all deaf people,'' he said yesterday.
In 1991, Mr Gravolin was involved in an assault at a pub in Croydon. ``I don't remember the incident,'' he said. ``Friends told me we went to the dance floor, I tapped a guy on the shoulder and he turned around and whacked me.
I fell back and hit my head on a railing.
``I had facial fractures and a skull fracture.
``The main consequence though was losing my hearing.''
Mr Gravolin said his hearing was very poor straight after the assault but then improved.
``Then I was in the Grampians one morning and realised my right ear wasn't working ... Six months later my left ear dropped out as well.''
Today Mr Gravolin has no hearing in his right ear and profound deafness in his left.
Employed as the Barwon South West co-ordinator for Deaf Access Victoria, Mr Gravolin nominated himself for the Queen's Baton Relay honour.
``It was about recognition and what I've been through,'' he said.
``My partner Sarah wanted to put my name in ... The closing date was getting close so I put it in. I've had a practise run along Raglan Parade on the footpath because I was a bit worried about how far it was but the distance was fine.
``I'll be a bit nervous on the day. Some people are coming from out of town to support me.''
Despite knowing and teaching sign language, Mr Gravolin communicates with a specially amplified telephone or face-to-face with individuals.
``I have a problem in crowds,'' he said. ``If I start heading the wrong way with the baton then I've obviously misheard something,'' he quipped.