On Wednesday April 1st, Port Lincoln High School had the privilege of welcoming guest speakers Mike Rolls and Ben Pettingill from the “Mates on a Mission” organisation. Their presentation focused on the important themes of resilience, strength, and the value of supporting one another.
Known affectionately within their organisation as ‘Legless and Blind’, Mike and Ben shared their stories around hardship. Ben was only sixteen years old when he lost 98% of his eyesight to a rare genetic syndrome, while Mike was just eighteen when he lost both of his legs to a deadly disease. These are powerful reminders of how quickly life’s challenges can present themselves and the importance of gratitude.
Students participated in engaging activities designed to develop critical thinking about the world around them. Mike and Ben challenged our student leaders to reflect on how, when facing adversity, we can often discover our greatest strengths and learnings. Their messages resonated strongly with both students and staff, who found the session to be not only thought-provoking but also deeply motivational.
The impact of this event was significant, providing our students with powerful tools and perspectives that will serve them well into the future. It represented an important and memorable milestone in our school’s ongoing commitment to student wellbeing, belonging and Crew.
We thank Mike and Ben for providing our school with this fantastic opportunity.
~ Mr. Hayden Bennett (Organising Teacher)
