Above: Hampton Park’s Stacey Bull accepts her cheque and trophy from Justice League character Green Lantern at Movie World.By Sarah Schwager
A HAMPTON Park girl has used the death of her father to inspire her to succeed in gymnastics.
Less than a year ago Stacey Bull, 12, lost her father Alan.
Two weeks later she was due to compete in a state competition but her mother, Denise, wanted to pull her out.
The Kilberry Valley Primary School grade six student decided to compete anyway and her team ended up coming second.
Stacey said now every time she went out on the floor she competed for her dad.
“I feel it made me go a lot further and try harder,” Stacey said.
Her dedication to the sport recently earned her a hero award through Cartoon Network’s nationwide hunt for young Australian heroes.
Two weeks ago Stacey was flown to Movie World on the Gold Coast where she was awarded a trophy, certificate, Sony PSP and $1000 cheque for winning the Numbuh 4s Sporting Legend award.
The family – Mrs Bull, Stacey and brother Jayden, 6, who was able to attend after the school paid for him to go – were treated to a four-day stay at the Nara Resort, visit to Sea World and Movie World.
Mrs Bull said the visit to Sea World had been particularly hard on the family.
She and the children were in Queensland visiting Sea World last year when they found out Alan had died in his sleep after suffering heart failure.
They had been in Caloundra for a national gymnastics competition for Stacey and were to spend a week on the Gold Coast when their trip was tragically cut short.
“It was hard for us to go back up (to the Gold Coast) but it was also a healing thing for us,” Mrs Bull said.
“It sort of completed the holiday and finished what we went up to do. Now that chapter is closed.”
Stacey was entered into the competition by her teachers Cheryl Van Deursen and Chris Lodewyke, who did not tell their student about the award until they found out she had won.
“I was amazed,” Stacey said. “At first I thought I was in trouble after I was called to the principal’s office.”
Mrs Lodewyke said she was proud of Stacey’s achievements.
“We entered her because she is so resilient and persevered through what she was doing, using the bad things in her life to drive her forward,” she said.
“I think her mum deserves a medal too because she takes her along to every session.”
Judge of the Cartoon Network award, sports commentator Scott Sattler, said the reason for his choice was not just Stacey’s achievements “but the decision that takes all of us to the next level when we come to a crossroad”.
“To be able to continue in the way she has after the significant loss to herself and family should prove inspirational to all of us and represents a positive attitude that will take her a long way in life,” he said.
After Stacey’s brush with stardom – not only was she featured in a parade through Movie World in the Bugs Bunny gold limousine, but she also had a cartoon character made of her and had her picture in kids’ magazine K-Zone – she is now setting her sights on her gymnastics career.
In her last competition Stacey came equal third in the uneven bars at the Victorian finals out of 57 competitors.
“I’m just very proud of her,” Mrs Bull said.
