Headmaster Seminar – Sam Cawthorn
We were very fortunate to receive a visit from Sam Cawthorn on Wednesday 16 September as part of our Headmaster Seminar Series for 2014. Sam is a philanthropist, author and speaker specialising in resilience and positive psychology. He spoke to our Middle and Senior School students during the day and then to our community of over 120 in the evening. Sam was involved in a major car accident in 2006 where he was pronounced dead. Thankfully Sam was resuscitated but was left with an amputated right arm, permanent disability in his right leg and was told he would never walk again.
Sam shared with us his story of a long and difficult recovery and how he found strength within himself to make the decision not to be a victim of a tragic accident but to seize the opportunity of life. It is his passion for life that had our students and community captivated and hanging on his every word wanting to hear what his secret was. Sam’s messages of bouncing forward from a difficult situation and life being about our decisions not our condition was an inspiration to all in the audience. Sam has gone on to achieve many great things including being able to walk again and being awarded the 2009 Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania.
Sam is a true example of how courage and strength can overcome diversity. He is one of the only people in the world that plays the guitar with an above elbow amputation. He also brags about having the most advanced bionic arm in the world which he programs with his iPhone 5!
We would like to thank Sam for visiting the School and sharing with us his infectious energy and passion for life.