Many members of this House will be aware of Sean McArdle. If they do not know him by name they will certainly know the sound of his voice. Of course, Sean is a regular on the talkback line at 2GB. What most people do not know about Sean is that he has battled schizophrenia for most of his life, an illness that severely affects the functioning of the brain and leads to disturbances in perception and behaviour.
For many people this disease would greatly restrict their ability to function, but not Sean. Sean is a dynamic, intelligent man who works tirelessly for the good of the Hornsby community, volunteering his time and energy supporting local charities and events. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Sean.
But he is able to do this because of one person who has made an enormous difference to his life. I am talking about an extraordinary woman, Kerrie McArdle, who also happens to be Sean's wife. She is not just Sean's wife; she is his soul mate, best friend and inspiration. Kerrie and Sean's partnership has been going strong for 34 years and together they have faced the challenges of Sean's illness. During the years the journey has not always been easy, but they have approached Sean's illness as a team, and that is the secret of their success. I want to recognise the wonderful role that Kerrie has played in helping Sean fulfil his potential and overcome what many regard as a frightening and debilitating illness.
As a carer Kerrie has not just made an enormous difference to Sean's life. Without knowing it she has made a significant contribution to our community, State and nation, firstly, as an example of love and support for someone suffering from an illness and, secondly, Sean and Kerrie now use their experience to help others by devoting a great deal of time educating the community about mental illness. They make presentations to schools and communities groups about mental health issues and are playing a vital role in demystifying a condition that affects so many. The courage they have shown in telling their story is inspirational and it is a great example to us all. I am constantly inspired by their story and on behalf of the community of Hornsby I am proud to draw the attention of the House to the achievements of this remarkable couple.
I met Sean and Kerrie when they addressed my high school in 1998 and talked about the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome them. I am very proud of the relationship that I have with them as the local member and as a friend. Kerrie's inspiration and dedication in caring for Sean and working in the community to destigmatise mental illness is most impressive. She is a great example of what can be achieved through great dedication and spirit. There are about 850,000 carers in New South Wales and they all deserve our recognition and thanks for their selfless efforts in supporting people with a disability, mental illness or chronic health conditions and those who are frail.
I am delighted that I am part of the O'Farrell Government which is giving carers the appropriate recognition that for too long they have gone without. They deserve it because they do so much on behalf of us all. I take this opportunity to congratulate Kerrie for the role that she has played in making our community and our State a better place. No challenge is too great for her and she has continued to care for Sean despite battling her own illnesses. I am proud of the work that Sean and Kerrie continue to do in our community of Hornsby and across the State and I look forward to continuing to support them in my role as the local member. They are an inspirational couple to whom we all owe a great debt of gratitude.
