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Michele Castagna
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'''Michele Castagna''' (1944 - 17 September 2016) was a disability advocate who made a significant contribution to disability services in [[Alice Springs]]; for which she received a Order of Australia medal. She is also a former alderman with Alice Springs Town Council and served from 1984 - 1992.<ref name=":0">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>
== Early life ==
Castagna's was born in Italy and she immigrated to Australia, with her parents in 1947. In Australia the Castanga family worked on a remote mica mine, approx. 250kms from Alice Springs, The family were very poor and slept head-to-toe in the same bed.<ref name=":1">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 2, expected 1)</ref>
In 1952, when boarding at the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent School, Castagna contracted polio and was the first case of [[polio]] to be admitted to the Alice Springs Hospital, although an epidemic of the virus would follow, and she was soon transferred to Adelaide by the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia|Royal Flying Doctor Service]]. Polio caused Castagna to become a [[Quadriplegic]].
Following her recovery from the virus Castagna was placed in the 'Somerton Crippled Home' where she would stay for seven years; her only regular visit hear was her grandfather once a fortnight and, due to the expense, her parents were only able to visit every two years.<ref name=":1" /> Her care in this home was impersonal and she felt isolated and this gave her a passion for disability advocacy.<ref name=":2"></ref>
It was intended that Castagna would remain in care for the rest of her life, she was regularly told that she would die before she turned 30, but, with the intervention of Don Broad, her physiotherapist she was allowed to come back to [[Central Australia]], where her family were now living in Alice Springs to live with them.<ref name=":1" />
== Career ==
Upon returning to Alice Springs Castagna stated working at the Sunny Centre (now known as Acacia Hill School), which caters for students with intellectual and physical disabilities.<ref> NTDSA|website=ntdsa.org.au|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref> Castagna worked with children with [[Down syndrome|Down Syndrome]]. A local club, the Quota Club, assisted Castagna and organised volunteers to drive her to and from work. The Quota Club were eventually able to give her a motorised wheelchair; Castagna said this was life changing<ref name=":1" />:
Castagna spent 5 years working at the Sunny Centre before being appointed the Coordinator of disability services for the Norther Territory in 1983.
In addition to her Coordinator role Castagna became an Alice Springs Town Council in 1984 and served until 1992, when she decided not to run again. She was the first alderman with a disability elected and following being an alderman continued to serve on the Council's Access Advisory Committee.<ref name=":3">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>
Castagna also served on a number of other boards and community groups; including:
* Being Chairperson of the Multicultural Community Services
* Convener of the Catholic Church of Refugees; aiming to bring Sudanese refugees to Australia
* Chaired the Arts Access Central Australia
* Chairperson for InCite (Alice Springs)<ref name=":0" />
* Founding member of ACROD, and from 1992 the chair or what was now called the NDS NT Committee <ref></ref>
* Chairperson of the Australian Catholic Disability Council<ref name=":2" /><br />
Throughout her life Castagna remained a strong catholic and, in Alice Springs, was an active member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish; where she sang in the choir<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>
<br />
== Later life ==
Castagna die in 2016, at the age of 72, and was mourned by many.<ref name=":3" />
== Awards ==
* In 1988 Castagna received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to people with disabilities in Alice Springs.<ref name=":0" />
* In 2014 Castagna was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from Arts Access Australia.<ref name=":4"> Incite Arts|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref>
* In 2015 Castagna was a state finalist to become [[Senior Australian of the Year]].<ref name=":3" />
* In 2016 Castagna was awarded the NT Arts Access Award for Excellence in Inclusive Arts Practice.<ref name=":4" /><br />
== References ==
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:People from Alice Springs]]
[[Category:Disability advocate]]
== Early life ==
Castagna's was born in Italy and she immigrated to Australia, with her parents in 1947. In Australia the Castanga family worked on a remote mica mine, approx. 250kms from Alice Springs, The family were very poor and slept head-to-toe in the same bed.<ref name=":1">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 2, expected 1)</ref>
In 1952, when boarding at the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent School, Castagna contracted polio and was the first case of [[polio]] to be admitted to the Alice Springs Hospital, although an epidemic of the virus would follow, and she was soon transferred to Adelaide by the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia|Royal Flying Doctor Service]]. Polio caused Castagna to become a [[Quadriplegic]].
Following her recovery from the virus Castagna was placed in the 'Somerton Crippled Home' where she would stay for seven years; her only regular visit hear was her grandfather once a fortnight and, due to the expense, her parents were only able to visit every two years.<ref name=":1" /> Her care in this home was impersonal and she felt isolated and this gave her a passion for disability advocacy.<ref name=":2"></ref>
It was intended that Castagna would remain in care for the rest of her life, she was regularly told that she would die before she turned 30, but, with the intervention of Don Broad, her physiotherapist she was allowed to come back to [[Central Australia]], where her family were now living in Alice Springs to live with them.<ref name=":1" />
== Career ==
Upon returning to Alice Springs Castagna stated working at the Sunny Centre (now known as Acacia Hill School), which caters for students with intellectual and physical disabilities.<ref> NTDSA|website=ntdsa.org.au|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref> Castagna worked with children with [[Down syndrome|Down Syndrome]]. A local club, the Quota Club, assisted Castagna and organised volunteers to drive her to and from work. The Quota Club were eventually able to give her a motorised wheelchair; Castagna said this was life changing<ref name=":1" />:
Castagna spent 5 years working at the Sunny Centre before being appointed the Coordinator of disability services for the Norther Territory in 1983.
In addition to her Coordinator role Castagna became an Alice Springs Town Council in 1984 and served until 1992, when she decided not to run again. She was the first alderman with a disability elected and following being an alderman continued to serve on the Council's Access Advisory Committee.<ref name=":3">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>
Castagna also served on a number of other boards and community groups; including:
* Being Chairperson of the Multicultural Community Services
* Convener of the Catholic Church of Refugees; aiming to bring Sudanese refugees to Australia
* Chaired the Arts Access Central Australia
* Chairperson for InCite (Alice Springs)<ref name=":0" />
* Founding member of ACROD, and from 1992 the chair or what was now called the NDS NT Committee <ref></ref>
* Chairperson of the Australian Catholic Disability Council<ref name=":2" /><br />
Throughout her life Castagna remained a strong catholic and, in Alice Springs, was an active member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish; where she sang in the choir<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>
<br />
== Later life ==
Castagna die in 2016, at the age of 72, and was mourned by many.<ref name=":3" />
== Awards ==
* In 1988 Castagna received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to people with disabilities in Alice Springs.<ref name=":0" />
* In 2014 Castagna was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from Arts Access Australia.<ref name=":4"> Incite Arts|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref>
* In 2015 Castagna was a state finalist to become [[Senior Australian of the Year]].<ref name=":3" />
* In 2016 Castagna was awarded the NT Arts Access Award for Excellence in Inclusive Arts Practice.<ref name=":4" /><br />
== References ==
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:People from Alice Springs]]
[[Category:Disability advocate]]
November 21, 2019 at 12:14PM
