Pictured: Kiama MP Gareth Ward, the Illawarra Dragons’ Bronson Harrison and Josh Dugan, and Minister for Ageing and Disability Services John Ajaka present ardent fan Rod Thompson, seated, with a red and white jersey signed by the team. Credit: GREG TOTMAN
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When St George Illawarra players Bronson Harrison and Josh Dugan turned up with a surprise on Wednesday, Dragons fan Rod Thompson could hardly wait to get his hands on it.
‘‘Give me my jersey,’’ Mr Thompson spelt out on his communication board not long after the formalities had started.
Mr Thompson suffered a brain injury at 18 and is confined to a prone wheelchair. He communicates by pointing at letters on his board with a laser pointer.
His eagerness to claim the jersey autographed by the 2013 team is understandable – Mr Thompson said he’d been a Dragons fan ‘‘since kindergarten’’, supporting the team because he grew up in the St George area.
The autographed jersey was delivered with the help of Ageing and Disability Services Minister John Ajaka.
Shortly after taking on that portfolio, Mr Ajaka was invited by the Cram Foundation to visit residents at one of its group homes, at Albion Park.
One of those residents was Mr Thompson, who made quite an impression on Mr Ajaka.
‘‘For me, Rod’s personality and sense of humour really stood out during my visit.
‘‘And it’s always great to meet a fellow Dragons fan,’’ Mr Ajaka said.
The minister said that Dragons CEO Peter Doust would ensure Mr Thompson got to see the Big Red V in a game at WIN Stadium next year – perhaps even close to the bench.
The jersey will be framed and hung on the wall in Mr Thompson’s room near one autographed by the Sydney Swans – he’s a supporter of the red and white in the AFL too.
