‘Why each day matters… and how to make the most of it.’

These were the words greeting students on the screen at Ulumbarra Theatre this afternoon, as they filed into their seats to hear from today’s guest speaker, Dr Bree Wright (PLY, PhD).

A curious, creative and determined child, Bree had always been obsessed with sport and it became a huge part of her identity.

“I was ‘Bree the athlete’,” she told students.

At the age of nine, Bree competed in a national championship for gymnastics and discovered her love of the competitive aspect of sport.

Dreaming of competing in the Olympics, sports continued to play a huge role in her life as she grew up.

2008 saw Bree head to the world junior championships for a sport she had become passionate about: diving.

Despite her love for competing, Bree experienced injuries and, at times, saw the darker side of the world of professional sport which led to her retiring in 2009.

This left her feeling lost, as so much of her identity was tied to sport.

“I had always been ‘Bree the athlete’ or ‘Bree the diver’—but then I had to discover who I was without it.”

Bree returned to university, got a job at a local pool, and regained some balance to life.

“But I still thought I was invincible,” she says.

A trampoline accident in January 2013 changed everything. Bree fell and broke her neck.

“My whole body felt like it was on fire,” she remembers. “I kept thinking, ‘I don’t want to die in a foam pit’.”

In that instant, everything changed. She was rushed to hospital and soon faced the reality of her accident. Due to the extent of her injuries, she would need to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

One doctor, when speaking to Bree, painted a picture of the ‘normal’ life she could have. But, to Bree, it sounded like simply ‘existing’—and that was not the life this determined woman wanted.

“I thought to myself, ‘I want to do things that are exciting’. This isn’t my bar—my bar is so much higher than this.”

Recovering from the accident was tough. There were days where Bree felt like she couldn’t keep going. But, surrounded by supportive people—and her own determined spirit—Bree overcame countless challenges and decided she would not only survive, but thrive.

She set herself three goals: return to university, learn to drive and move out of home. Within 18 months, Bree had achieved all these things.

Her competitive edge returned as she delved into the world of wheelchair basketball—which led to her representing Australia at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.

More recently, Bree completed her PhD, had her first child, and continues to share her story with others in the hopes that they will believe that they too—no matter what adversities they face in life—can make the most of every single day.

“Bad things will happen, but it’s not the end of the world,” says Bree.

She left the crowd with her favourite quote from Swiss psychologist Carl Jung: “I am not what happened to me: I am what I choose to become.”

“I am a scientist, athlete, a Mum, and—hopefully—an inspirer.”