IT'S AUSTRALIA DAY TODAY!

The man who has been named Australian of the Year is

Emeritus Professor Alan Mackay-Sim

Biomedical scientist treating spinal cord injuries

An inspirational scientist and international leader in stem cell research, Professor Alan Mackay-Sim has given hope to thousands of Australians with spinal cord injuries. A global authority on the human sense of smell and the biology of nasal cells, Alan led the world’s first clinical trial using these cells in spinal cord injury. In 2014, Alan’s research helped play a central role in the world’s first successful restoration of mobility in a quadriplegic man. As the director of the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research for a decade, Alan’s research has championed the use of stem cells to understand the biological bases of brain disorders and diseases such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. Alan’s pioneering work has led to collaborations with teams of health professionals who are translating his research into clinical practice. He has laid the foundation for the next generation of researchers and demonstrated the value of inquiry, persistence and empathy.

Photos

As you can see here Liliane, Mr. Mackay-Sim's research helped a quadriplegic man to regain movement.  Quadriplegic means that, either through disease or an accident, a person is paralysed in both the arms and legs usually as a result of damage to the spinal chord.  This must have been amazing for the man who received this ground-breaking treatment.

The painting continues, with Chris and Cody here today.  Sam, Chris' son has taken the day off today as his Dad says that he isn't well trained in gloss work yet.  Sam has just finished school and has been helping his Dad during his school holidays for quite a few years.  Chris was telling me this morning, that Sam has decided to take a year off before going to University in order to save some money before leaving home.  He will continue to work with his Dad, this time though he will be working full-time.

When he heads off next year, he is going to study in Sydney to be a film producer.  If you want to know more about what a film producer does, just click on the link above.

Chris, thank goodness remembered that today was a public holiday and picked up the new paint for the library on his way home yesterday afternoon.  He's now in the midst of painting the room.  I've just taken a photograph of him from my office.

I'm much happier with this colour.  What do you think Liliane?

Here's a photograph of the stuff the painters put over the books to protect them from dust and paint.

Yesterday after the painters left, Papa and I spent some time in the garden and I took a few photographs for you.

Here's one with Keith the builder next door.  He was pulling all the cladding off the back of the house and was making quite a racket.

Another photograph of  Molly, happy in the garden now that the painters had left.

And another couple as Chris continues around the library.

The bottom picture give a better idea of the colour than the one above.  It's taken looking into Papa's office.

Tomorrow I'm heading off to Robyn's for my first monthly quilting at her place for the year.  I'll be taking the Hebridean quilt and giving it some thought while I drink cups of tea, eat yummy food and chat away to ma pals.  Will remember to take the camera.

Love Nanxxxx