Podcast with Sue-Ellen Lovett

Get to know Sue-Ellen:

If there isn’t a light at the end of the tunnel you’re looking down – bloody go down and light it yourself! If you want straight talking, open, honest yet incredibly positive and inspiring, welcome to Sue-Ellen Lovett’s take on this wild ride we call ‘Life’. Sue-Ellen will share with you how to make a difference, even a small one. There’s no point talking about it – it’s ACTION that counts. Sue-Ellen is NOT like everyone else. She is a rare gem in this world. She lives in total darkness yet the light she shines on so many lives, every day, is beyond measure. You will NEVER have met anyone like her. Her ability to INSPIRE is off the charts incredible. Sue-Ellen has changed lives and will continue to do so until the day she dies. It's who she is, it's in her DNA. When a Blind Chick tells you to get off your arse and make things happen, and she's got a list of achievements that make even the most enthusiastic Award collector gag, people get off their arses! When this Blind Chick speaks, people listen. 4 I 14 Dual Paralympian, Atlanta 1996 & Sydney 2000, Bronze Medalist at the 1999 World Dressage Championships in Denmark where she was ranked 4 th in the World, Top 10% of Elite Dressage Riders in Australia, Cancer Survivor, Fundraiser of $3.2 million for various charities doing 10 marathon long distance endurance rides, Director on the Paralympic Games Committee Board, Author, Wife, Horse Addict. Mudgee born Sue-Ellen Lovett lives with husband Matthew on a property in Dubbo. Sue Ellen has had six Guide Dogs in the past 38 years. Always accompanied by one of her guide dogs, even when competing internationally at World Championships and Paralympics. Her most famous Guide Dog was Eccles, a creamy lab with golden spots on his ears who accompanied her to Denmark, Atlanta, and Sydney. Sue-Ellen endearingly refers to him as her Suit and Tie dog, always so professional. She continues to overcome the limitations of total blindness after being afflicted by the hereditary degenerative disease Retinitis Pigmentosa. She was born legally blind, albeit as she ran around their family property, rode horses bareback and helped her father muster the stock she didn’t know the minimal sight she had was not normal. Sue-Ellen doesn’t let her condition stop her achieving her goals, on or off the saddle. Sue-Ellen ‘Lives to Ride’, competes at FEI Inter 1 level, and trains Grand Prix. As well as riding, Sue-Ellen’s life is devoted to helping and motivating people. During the marathon rides she raised the $3.2m, she spoke at functions in over 600 towns, and gave inspirational talks to thousands. One of her longest rides was Cairns to the Gold Coast in 1988, 2400 km, 54 days in the saddle, with the funds raised going to the RDA. Another was from Melbourne to Sydney in 1998 to raise money and public awareness for the Sydney Paralympic Games. At that time she was short listed to be competing at Sydney but still did the 38 days in the saddle and raised $1.1m.