Rocky to talk at spinal injury forum

[antiquity]

Â*


Guest speaker: Rocky Mileto and wife Derani are in Sydney this week where Rocky is a guest speaker at the NSW Premier's Forum on Spinal Cord Injury. Photo JUDE KEOGH

Rocky to talk at spinal injury forum
By Janice Harris
Tuesday, 28 January 2003

ROCKY Mileto of Orange has been invited to address the NSW Premier's Forum on Spinal Cord Injury this week at Darling Harbour in Sydney.

The forum has attracted strong media and community interest with actor, director and author Christopher Reeve as special guest at the forum titled 'Making Connections'.

Rocky, who is accompanied by his wife Derani, says he feels privileged to have been invited as one of only a handful of guests to be invited to Government House to meet Christopher Reeve.

"I'm really looking forward to this week as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity,&rdquo Rocky said.

"I really would like to talk to him and find out how he deals with his injury,&rdquo he said.

Rocky sustained spinal injuries during a game of rugby union when he was playing for Orange City.

However Rocky says it is important to always try to remain positive.

"I think one of the worst things is to always look back. If you do that - you don't feel like getting out of bed every day,&rdquo he said.

During his rehabilitation Rocky has become heavily involved in Orange City Council's access committee where he has been able to experience first-hand the difficulties involved in traversing the city's streets and accessing buildings.

"I've nearly been hit a couple of times, it can be quite a scary experience trying to get around.&rdquo

Since his rugby accident Rocky's life has taken an entirely different direction.

He is now in his final year of law studies, a career which he says he would not have considered pursuing prior to his accident.

http://orange.yourguide.com.au/detai...ews&m=1&y=2003