Tony Jose and Daisy May the Gofer are the subject of OUTinPerth’s first ever ‘It Changed My Life’ column.
I am a left hemiplegic, and I slipped in the shower and injured my left leg. It took ages to heal. In the meantime, I couldn’t walk long distances. So, my occupational therapist at the Centre for Cerebral Palsy convinced me to get this gofer, and I have never looked back.
My life before the gofer was just boring. I was restricted to catching buses, catching taxis and not being able to walk too far. I spent a lot of time staying at home watching TV or reading magazines. Since I’ve had the gofer, I can just get out on my little bike.
It is the best thing that has ever happened to me, transport-wise.
‘Daisy May takes me here. Daisy May takes me there. Daisy May takes me everywhere.’ That’s my little jingle for my bike.
I can get it onto a train, and I’ve taken myself down to Freo. I’ve taken myself to Guildford. I take myself to the Centre for Cerebral Palsy. It is fun. I get out. It saves me money. Sometimes I forget that I have a time limit and I only have so far before I have to make the same distance back again. There have been a couple of times, when I’ve had to ring a Maxicab to come and bring me home!
Somedays, Daisy May is a Harley Davison; other days a Ferrari. It all depends on what mood I’m in. I’ve gotta friend who also has a gofer. Him and myself, we go investigating. The best time is when we go exploring around the river, perving on good two legged scenery.
