Deanne Newton

Deanne Newton
Deanne Newton

I have had a life-long love of writing which I followed most recently by studying a BA Honours in English. However, I have worked mostly in administration. I have been married since 2009. I have cerebral palsy and would most like to write about the emotions, frustrations and achievements of life for myself and others.

I have had a life-long love of writing which I followed most recently by studying a BA Honours in English. However, I have worked mostly in administration. I have been married since 2009.

Deanne Newton's articles

Wheelchair access in Russia

Deanne on a bridge with Kremlin in the background.
Deanne on a bridge with Kremlin in the background.

My persistence was worth it.

Late last year I went to Russia with my partner. It was difficult to travel around the cities in my wheelchair. Some of the buildings and train stations were not accessible. In Moscow there were no pedestrian road crossings at street level. However we were pleased the buses had wheelchair ramps, which helped us move around. Although it was hard sometimes, we are happy we visited Russia. There were many wonderful things to see and do. It was a colourful and interesting place.
More information about Wheelchair access in Russia
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 18/02/2016
9 comments - last comment on 15/03/2016
More about: 
Travel

Pushing the Limits

A photo of Kurt Fearnley on the book cover.
A compelling tale.

A compelling tale.

Kurt Fearnley has won three gold medals for wheelchair racing at the Paralympic Games. He has raced in many marathons and crawled over the tough Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea. In his book, “Pushing the Limits: Life, Marathons & Kokoda” he shows what people with disabilities can do. He says it is important for everyone to be treated the same. He writes how his family and friends taught him to have self-confidence and not give up. His determination helped him to become a great athlete.
More information about Pushing the Limits
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 21/04/2015
No comments
More about: 
Books and writing

Jobs fair

A man is sitting at a table being interviewed by a woman. In the background are other one-on-one interviews.
Job_interview_0001

It was confidence building.

I recently went to a jobs fair. There were about 200 people there. People with disabilities went to talk about looking for work with people who may be able to guide them. These included people from McDonalds, Bunnings, Victoria Police and Lord of the Fries. Those looking for jobs needed to say a few words about what they had done and were interested in. This helped them to find the best jobs to apply for. The fair is a great chance to build your confidence and meet new people. It could also help you find a job.
More information about Jobs fair
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 29/01/2015
No comments
More about: 
Jobs

Passionate about performance

A woman performs on stage in front of a film showing a woman's face. The image is dark and haunting.
A woman performs on stage in front of a film showing a woman's face. The image is dark and haunting.

Performers reveal inner secrets.

Emma Norton is a young actress and member of the BoilOver Inclusive Theatre Ensemble. The Melbourne-based theatre group is made up of people with a disability who love to perform. Emma has enjoyed acting since she was a child. She is also studying an acting course at NMIT. This week Emma will perform in her fourth play for BoilOver, called Innermost . In February, Emma spoke at a meeting in Canberra about the NDIS. She spoke about the great things she has done in her life.
More information about Passionate about performance
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 11/03/2014
No comments
More about: 
Performance Arts

CoffeeHead II cafe

Apple hotcakes with macadamia butter, blueberry compote and vanilla ice cream.
Coffee head photo 1.JPG

The meal was small but delicious.

CoffeeHead II is an exciting new cafe in Frankston, not far from the beach. The cafe is part of the Quest tower building. It has good coffee and delicious food that is not too expensive. The menu includes meals from different countries like Japan, as well as Australian food. I recently enjoyed a tasty breakfast there of salmon and eggs on English muffins. The cafe has a wheelchair friendly side entrance and toilets nearby. The staff were helpful and welcoming.
More information about CoffeeHead II cafe
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 11/02/2014
No comments
More about: 
Food and Going Out

Port Stephens

Salamander Bay in Port Stephens.
Salamander_Bay_Nelson_Bay_-NSW

Salamander Bay in Port Stephens.

Port Stephens is a beautiful beach holiday spot in New South Wales. Over the last summer holidays I went there for the third time. I stayed in an apartment and found some good food and coffee. I spent a day in Newcastle and I also enjoyed the beach. Port Stephens also offers some exciting activities such as dolphin watching and buggy riding making it a great place to go. There are many accessible activities to enjoy.
More information about Port Stephens
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 17/12/2013
No comments
More about: 
Travel

Handle With Care

A close-up of a person's hand taking a book from a book shelf.
close up of someone taking a book out of a bookshelf

Book Review of the book, 'Handle with Care"

Willow is a very clever five year old. She also has a condition which causes brittle bones. In the book, Handle With Care, Willow's parents go to court to fight for money to help her but some people think Willow's parents just want to be rich. Willow's family wonder if fighting for money is just making them unhappy. The book talks about the many difficulties faced for children and their families living with disabilities. This helps readers to understand their lives.
More information about Handle With Care
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 09/10/2013
1 comment - on 03/04/2015
More about: 
Books and writing

A Night with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Hands conducting music on a grey background
conductor

As the stirring music rang through the air, the sun set slowly behind us and bathed the stage in light.

I attended one of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's classical concerts a few months ago at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. At first, I was worried that I would not be able to go because of my limited walking ability. But I found that there was lots of help available for people with a disability. A young man with Cerebral Palsy also appeared in the concert. I ended up having a great night.
More information about A Night with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 05/08/2013
No comments
More about: 
Performance Arts

Attitude versus ability

Abstract view of a wheelchair on an athletic track
olympic

Attitude can be everything.

A friend recently expressed surprise when I said I did most things myself, with a little help from family. She said she thought I should be getting more help. Some people with a disability, like Kurt Fearnley, have managed to succeed at many things on their own. If I believe in myself, I can do that too. I told my friend this and she said she thought I was amazing. I don't think it is amazing to do things on your own. It is just part of living your life the way you want.
More information about Attitude versus ability
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 04/01/2013
7 comments - last comment on 30/09/2013
More about: 
Health and Wellbeing

Social media and disability

Three young women sitting besides each other and using laptops.
Girls using macs

Social media serves many purposes.

Social media like Facebook and Twitter is a great way to keep in touch with friends. But it is also used in other important ways. Facebook is used to show support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Disability organisations use it to let people know about important issues and events. Social media can also be a great way for people with a disability to get their opinions heard. In Britain thousands of people used Twitter to show they were unhappy with the government which was thinking about making payment cuts for people with a disability.
More information about Social media and disability
Posted by: 
Deanne Newton on 18/10/2012
No comments
More about: 
Computers and Electronics

Pages