Australian Story
Season 2 Episode 22 - A Will of Their Own
Film maker and author Pamela Traynor introduces the story of two amazing and indomitable young Australians, Allana Arnot and Mark Bagshaw. Pamela discovered their stories when her young daughter Jessica was knocked down by a car at a pedestrian crossing and seriously hurt. The accident set Pamela off on a mission to try to discover the crucial factors which enable some individuals to overcome extraordinary trauma and still lead fulfilling lives in circumstances which would crush most of us. She hoped to find clues which would help her daughter’s recovery. She met Allana and Mark in the course of her search and was immediately struck by the power of their experiences and the strength of their characters. Allana was left with paraplegia after a horrific light plane crash in her early twenties. She had to battle fear of flying and severe physical handicaps but has gone on to gain her commercial chopper pilot’s license. She is now in the middle of a solo flight around Australia. A diving accident at the age of sixteen left Mark Bashaw with complete quadriplegia. That means he is paralysed from the neck down with only a little limited movement in his arms. Despite incredible physical limitations Mark has managed a marriage, a highly successful business career and at the age of forty, is IBM’s international marketing manager for Australia and New Zealand. He went for the job without disclosing his handicap. These are stories to rival the saga of Janice Shepherd as recounted in her best selling books “Never Tell Me Never” and “Dare to Fly”.
Episodes in Season 2
The Parson's Daughter / The Keeper
30 min
The Commissioner / Outback Legend
30 min
Heroes / Girl's Own
30 min
The Mouse That Roared / Dragon Tale
30 min
Seize the Day / Alf of the Antarctic
30 min
The Portland Boy / Harold the Kangaroo
30 min
Portrait of Mick / A Woman's Voice
30 min
Woman For All Seasons / Sister Act
30 min
Native Born / Trials of Life
30 min
Rocks and Rollers / Silent Nights
30 min
House of Hancock
30 min
Norm's Army / Folk Hero
30 min
Lamb's Tale / Where Eagles Fly
30 min
Lady Jane / The Good Sport
30 min
Accidental Hero / A Girl Like Alice
30 min
The Player / Heart of Gold
30 min
Born to Run / Jesse's Town
30 min
Outback Daughter
30 min
The Last Tentman / A Secret Life
30 min
The Sound Barrier / The Sunshine Twins
30 min
Concerto For Don / Dream Run
30 min
A Will of Their Own
30 min
All That Glitters / A Charmed Life
30 min
Her Excellency / The Makeover Man
30 min
Valentine's Day
30 min
A Wing and a Prayer / His Own Trumpet
30 min
Broken Heart / To Di For
30 min
I Had A Dream / Great Scott
30 min
Winter of Our Discontent
30 min
The Good Life / Spirit of Arnhem
30 min
The Comeback King / Out of the Blue
30 min
Upon A White Horse / As Time Goes By
30 min
The Homecoming / Up A Gum Tree
30 min
Master of Illusion / All You Need is Love
30 min
The Mission
30 min
Lost and Found / The Promised Land
30 min
In God's Name
30 min
Roads Less Travelled / Without A Trace
30 min
