The community was rocked by the news that much loved business owner, Tim Perkins, had suffered a severe injury after falling 10 metres from a palm tree, on the 3rd December, 2024. The impact broke 26 bones and crushed his spinal cord. Tim instantly realised that he could not feel his legs.

He has since been advised that he will never walk again and the news still sits heavily with Tim and his wife Norina. Every day is now spent in rehab, at the Townsville Hospital’s Spinal Injury Unit.

Unfortunately, the vital support of the North Queensland Spinal Injury Service (NQSIS) is set to be discontinued after June 30th due to a lack of state and state and federal funding. Without this specialist team, and the unrealised lobbying of 10 beds being allocated for spinal injury patients like Tim, spinal patients are forced to travel over 1,300km to Brisbane. This means they have to leave families, friendships and local communities behind, at a time when that support and love are most needed.

We are calling on our government to initially fund equipment such as wheel chairs and commodes, to meet basic human needs to the rehabilitation unit in Townsville, that is desperately under resourced and presently leaves patients in beds while sharing essential mobility devises. Further more to commit $1.6 million to ensure the continuation of NQSIS. And finally to commitment $20 million to establish a dedicated 10-bed spinal ward at Townsville University Hospital.

Tim and Norina’s experience highlights the importance of local spinal injury unit in North Queensland. Being separated from family for long periods of time, has poor outcomes, breaks down families, is de-motivating and is deeply saddening, through the long road to recovery. Regional Australians deserve the same level of care and support as those in capital cities, and we must ensure that North Queensland’s spinal injury patients are not neglected.

We urge all community members to sign this petition and join us in lobbying for federal and state funding to protect and improve these vital services for the future.

Help us ensure that no one in North Queensland faces the hardship of being separated from their families during their darkest days. Support our local rehabilitation unit in Townsville, for the best possible outcomes for spinal patients and their families. 

Would you want to be over 1,000km away from your loved ones after finding out you can no longer use your legs? 

Please sign the petition today and be a voice for change. Together, we can make a difference.