It takes a village, like Rowena

This time last year, Rowena’s Ollie Bierhoff was lying in a hospital bed, unsure if he would ever be able to walk again after an accident at rugby camp.

But a year on, this determined young man has defied the odds and is standing tall thanks to his own grit as well as the unwavering support of family, friends, his school, college and the tight-knit village of Rowena.

“When I broke my neck at rugby camp, the Rowena community was there for me,” said Ollie, the son of Colleen and Bernie Bierhoff.

On July 13, 2018, the then Toowoomba Grammar schoolboy suffered a serious spinal cord injury during a training session, in what was described as a ‘freak accident’.

“They told me that there was a very low chance of ever recovering and I just knew I had to block that out,” Ollie said after the accident.

But Ollie has made a phenomenal recovery and is walking, and even running again.

Ollie Bierhoff said the support he received from back home was ‘fantastic’, while he spent three months in hospital and rehab, more than 600 kilometres away at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Ollie’s parents were able to be by his side due to the support and understanding of Mr Bierhoff’s employers, as well as friends who assisted with feeding their dogs and watering the garden.

Mrs Bierhoff said the family were ‘flooded with support’ from people near and far including from the Toowoomba Grammar School and St Albert’s College in Armidale.

“It was good peace of mind to know that Mum and Dad could just stay with me and help me out through my tough days,” said Ollie.

“It was just amazing.

“It helped Mum and Dad because they didn’t need to stress out about home.

“Even though they were the most calm people in the circumstances.”
Recently, Ollie decided he wanted to give back to the community that was so vital in helping to build him back up.

“Rugby Australia kindly gave me this awesome Wallabies jersey to help me return the kindness and raise much-needed funds for the Rowena Pre-school and Public School,” said Ollie.