APC Imagery Stories

These photos are of Kelly Cartwright, an Australia Paralympian, competing at the  2010 IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand in the women’s 100m event (left) and 2012 London Paralympics Games in the women’s long jump event (right).

An incredibly determined and hard working athlete, Kelly set a world record of 16.26 seconds in the 100m event and the world record for her long jump heat. The photo on the right depicts Kelly’s final and winning jump that set the world record.

Raised in Geelong, Victoria, Kelly was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as synovial sarcoma in her right knee. At the tender age of 15, Kelly elected to have her right leg amputated above the knee to remove the cancer.

This is a copy of a news article in The Press about Kelly Cartwright’s world record achievements at the 2012 London Paralympics Game.

At age 15, Kelly Cartwright was a sporty teenager who aspired to become a professional netballer, when suddenly she was forced to have her right leg amputated above knee when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer.

Inspired by the Paralympic movement, Kelly attended APC where David Howells, Senior Prosthetist, created her first socket and running leg that enabled her to start track and field. A natural athlete, Kelly has since become a world champion Paralympic athlete. Kelly represented Australia in 2008 at the Beijing Paralympics in the women’s 100m event and in 2012 competed at the London Paralympics where she set a world record in the 100m and long jump event.

“When you start working with clients like Kelly from the beginning of their journey, it’s very special. It’s one thing to see them achieve their Paralympic goals with the prosthesis you make for them, but it’s also a huge impact to see how much they have grown as a person.” – David Howells

David Howells, a co-founder and Senior Prosthetist at APC, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2006 for his services to amputees in the areas of patient support and prosthetics manufacture, and to the profession through voluntary clinical and training roles. This is a picture of an article published in a local Sydney newspaper of David as a recipient of the OAM.

The article reads:

David Howells said the best part about being a prosthetist was that you were improving an amputee’s quality of life. Mr Howells has worked in prosthetics for more than 30 years. On Monday, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to amputees. The honour recognises his work in patient support and prosthetics manufacture and of the profession through voluntary clinical and training roles. The 49 year old was the founding member of APC Prosthetics at Northmead. The company manufactures 400 new limbs a year with a staff of about 15. Mr Howells is considered Australia’s most experienced C-leg practitioner having fitted more than 20 patients since it was introduced to Australia in 1999. He has also been a prosthetist to the Australian Paralympic team since the year 2000. “It’s a great profession,” he said. “It’s fairly traumatic after anyone has an amputation but what you can do is make a difference to their quality of life, so it’s very rewarding. Unlike doctors, with prosthetics, you can have a 20 or 30 relationship with people. They are more family than clients.”

This is a picture of Deborah Roach, an Australian Pole Dancer. Deb is an upper extremity amputee who was born without her left arm and competed in the 2012 International Pole Championship in Hong Kong where she won first place.

Deb is an inspiration, showing us that anything is possible.

“Thanks APC for helping me to live my dreams!! 🙂” – Deb Roach

This is a photo of the 2012 London Paralympics opening ceremony (top) and Kelly Cartwright’s jump in her long jump heat that set the world record (bottom).

Kelly is a client at APC. Raised in Geelong, Victoria, Kelly was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as synovial sarcoma in her right knee. At the tender age of 15, Kelly elected to have her right leg amputated above the knee to remove the cancer.

A poster signed by Michael Milton, Australia Paralympic Skier, thanking the APC team for their incredible work on his prosthesis that allowed him to compete at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

“Thanks Dave + Cam + APC. The stump bucket worked a treat in Beijing” – Michael Milton

A lovely postcard sent from Kate Horan as she arrives at Athens to make her debut at the 2004 Paralympic Games.

“Dear Harvey,

By the time you receive this I’ll be in Athens ready to fulfil my dream of representing New Zealand at the Paralympic Games. I would like to thank you for the fantastic leg and great support you have given me.”

– Kate Horan, New Zealand Paralympic runner and cyclist

At 16 years old, Eliza Ault-Connell contracted the meningococcal virus which caused her to lose both legs and arms, with tremendous scarring across her body due to her stumps having to be completely grafted from viable skin. Nevertheless, Eliza had an amazing will and incredibly positive attitude to live.

Only 6 months after being discharged from the hospital, Eliza had already set her goal to become an athlete and run again, pushing her emotional and physical limits during rehab. Since 2002, Eliza has represented Australia in the Commonwealth Games, Olympics and Paralympics as a track and wheelchair athlete. Eliza is now a mother of 2 children, a personal and fitness trainer, and ambassador of Meningococcal Australia which is a not-for-profit organisation raising awareness about the meningococcal disease.

Overcoming many obstacles in her life, Eliza’s amazing story is truly remarkable, and we are proud to have Eliza’s story on the wall at APC.

Don Elgin was an Australian Paralympic athlete born with significant congenital deficiency including webbed fingers on both hands, partial toes on his left foot and below knee on the right leg due to amputation.

Don competed in the 2000 Sydney Paralympic and 2004 Athens Paralympic Games in the men’s pentathlon in which he won Bronze in both Games. The APC team worked on 6 different sport prostheses to allow Don to compete in the various sports, including a throwing leg for sprinting, discus and shotput.

Don currently works as a motivational speaker and is the Founder of StarAmp Global – a management company supporting Paralympic competitors.

A man with great spirit, a big heart, and an all round terrific bloke, we are proud to have Don be a part of the APC Family.

“To Prof. Harv and Team, thanks so much for helping me to get to great heights in sport and life. Cheers :)” – Don Elgin

This is a 1916 newspaper article from The Argus found at a Trash and Treasure antique store in Echuca, a small town located on the Murray River, Melbourne.

The article is titled ‘Replacing Lost Limbs: Marvellous Artificial Arms and Legs’.

“It’s interesting they’re talking about marvellous artificial arms and legs, but when I look at these photos, I’m thinking antique! The technology was old, but they served people in those days the same way. Expectations now from amputees and what they can achieve are much higher now because of social media, componentry, technology, etc. Even though these are old photos and old limbs, the basic principles of prosthetics is still around these days.” – David Howells

Ian Crewe was an above knee amputee who worked in the state emergency services, formerly known as the National Securities Agencies, as part of the search and rescue crew. Due to the nature of his job and active lifestyle, Ian had many different types of legs made for him to allow him to sail, climb, swim, or even parachute, as shown in the montage of photos.

There isn’t a limit on what you can do; if you dream it, you can do it. Whatever you want to do, whether it be sailing or scuba diving, it’s all possible if you set yourself the goal and strive to fulfil it. It’s a marriage – at APC we can make the prosthesis you need to achieve your goals, but you’ve got to drive yourself to use them, and when that happens, we receive good outcomes and good results.

“The only limitations are the ones you set for yourself.” – Ian Crewe

This is a photo of Ryley Batt, an Australian Paralympic wheelchair rugby player, at the 2012 London Paralympics.

Ryley Batt attended APC to have specially created prosthetic training devices leading up to the 2012 London Games. Ryley was made special hand devices that allowed him to undertake weight lifting training to build upper body strength in his arm, chest and back. Ryley was a member of the Australian Paralympic rugby wheelchair team that won Gold at the 2012 London Paralympics, not losing one quarter against all other competing countries. The team went on to retain its Gold medal position at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.