Elsie Lange
In her new book, ‘If I Can, You Can’, former radio and TV journalist Karen O’Sullivan tells the story of Kyneton Football Netball Club’s (KDFNC) Hayden Walsh.
The biography of the 31-year-old explores his life loving sport and living with cerebral palsy.
Walsh is well-known around the Bendigo Football League and has been Kyneton’s senior timekeeper since 2014.
“I feel really blessed and privileged to be able to be able to tell his story – it’s given me insight into longform writing, and small run publications,” O’Sullivan said.
O’Sullivan was the first female president of the KDFNC and after meeting Walsh through the club, knew immediately that she wanted to write about him.
Walsh said as a young kid, he was told to make the most of life despite the obstacles he faced.
“That’s what I am doing; living my life to the best of my ability,” Walsh said.
Even former AFL player and coach Nathan Buckley contributed a forward to the biography of Walsh, who was the first person with a disability to play Auskick halftime at a match, and was central to the KDFNT creating its first all-abilities team in 2021.
“His actions do speak louder than his words,” O’Sullivan said.
“He just gets about his business and does what he does, in a kind and thoughtful way, and that’s something we can all try and achieve.”
‘If I Can, You Can’, launched at 5.30pm Friday, April 1, at the Kyneton Hotel.
