Angus Thompson is a young man who is bursting with enthusiasm and a genuine love of life.
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The 23-year-old has just finished a degree in public relations at Charles Sturt University and is looking at a bright future.
Angus loves hanging out with his friends, partying, and sports. He also has cerebral palsy.
Born in Balmain, he is the embodiment of former Premier Neville Wran’s words ‘Balmain boys don’t cry’.
Angus moved to Bathurst when he was eight-years old and attended West Bathurst Public School and, later, St Stanislaus’ College.
He is a young man who has always been keen to take control of, and responsibility for, his own life.
Angus has hired his own carers. He has chosen university students because they are young and fun and have more in common with him.
He said this was one of the great things about the current system for those with disabilities. He gets to choose.
“I get to employ the people who care for me,” he said. “And my carers have to be a bit of fun,” he said.
Angus said studying for his university degree was challenging, not least because he had to have help typing his assignments and his carers had their own assignments to get in.
“It was a lot of work, a lot of organising, getting people to come around every day to help me type,” he said.
Angus lived on campus for the first three years and last year moved into a house with a friend.
“This is so much better,” he said. “I don’t have to put up with all the 18 year olds.”
Angus applied to study journalism and got accepted into public relations.
What he valued most out of his study experience was the interaction with all kinds of people.
“I learned a lot about people and how strange everyone is,” he laughed. “I have always wanted to go to university.
“I wanted to show people I could do whatever I wanted to do.”
It hasn’t always been an easy road for Angus.
He said living with cerebral palsy was a little bit harder when he was a kid.
“In the early days when I was in kindergarten I was put into a class where everyone had a disability because it was easier for the staff,” he said.
“When they saw I could do a lot more they moved me into a mainstream class.
“I was very lucky to have the same aide right through primary school and high school.
“There is a lot more knowledge about different disabilities now, and that’s a good thing,” Angus said.
Angus has a lot of interests outside university.
He loves spending time with his friends and having drinks. He enjoys watching movies and tv shows.
“Watching movies is my favourite thing, but I love all sports too – basketball and rugby in particular,” Angus said.
His wheelchair sits in the corner while he flies around the house at speed on his knees.
“The chair is too big and too awkward and it just takes too long to get anywhere,” he explained.
Angus said getting around Bathurst is not too bad, but he does rely on his friends to lift him up or carry him up stairs sometimes.
“Last year I went to New York with my brother Alex and my best friend Jess for two weeks,” he said.
“It was fantastic. I was brought up on tv shows and movies and knew all about New York. I just had to experience it for myself.
“It was amazing – just walking around the streets and experiencing the culture.
“We went to a different bar every night,” he grinned.
Angus said he also loved the food. Philly cheese steak was his favourite, and hot dogs.
One of the highlights was having tickets to see the Knicks play basketball.
“I loved all the museums too – the Museum of Modern Art was amazing,” he said.
“Before we left we went to see one of my favourite bands ‘TV on the Radio’. Their new album had only been released a few days before and it was the first time they had played some of the songs.”
Angus said he would like to travel again one day to England, Ireland and Wales, but getting around was a lot of effort.
“But if I want to do something I know I can do it,” Angus said.
“I refuse to sit in my chair all day and say I can’t do something just because it feels like too much effort.
“I never let other people tell me I can’t do something either.”
Angus said his family was very encouraging when he was growing up, particularly his mum.
“My mum is the best person, she’s always fighting for me to do things and have opportunities,” he said.
“Having my family living in town is fantastic.
“I’m always around at my brother’s place. We have some of the same friends, so we all hang out together.”
Angus is currently in the process of applying for a PR job with Interchange.
“I’m out there making it happen,” he said.