Thank you to everyone who attended the Women in Strata end of year event last week. It was SO great to be in the same room together again. Last week showed us how important that connection is. Here’s to a 2026 of seeing more of each other.
It is with great joy that the WiS committee confirm we have donated $5000 to Jolly Duong’s Go Fund Me! Thank you also to the very generous donations made on the night.
This donation puts Jolly just behind 30% of the $150,000 goal.
Who is Jolly, why does he need $150,000 and why are WiS supporting him?
Jolly is one of us. A strata manager. He left law to become a strata manager because he didn’t want to just be involved in the problems, he wanted to shape community.
Jolly is also an athlete. An impressive one who used to do triathlons for fun.
In March last year, less than a year ago, Jolly became a T5 paraplegic. He’s paralysed from mid-chest down.
What’s Jolly done in the less than 9 months since his accident?
Well first he learnt to breathe on his own again.
Then eat, and use his arms and hands.
Manage his digestive system.
He had to learn to sit up without his core.
Transfer to his wheelchair. Use the wheelchair.
Drive.
Did I mention he also: Learnt to race (and did his first one 154 days after the accident), swim (in the ocean, no less), do archery (at a world’s best level!), hell last week he tried rock climbing (literally with nothing except his arms). His modelled and appeared as a guest and keynote speaker. He plays basketball with disabled kids and supports others in wheelchairs to know it can be ok. Life can still be full and bright. Just from a different angle.
In less than 9 months. He has done all of this.
Oh, he also has to drag himself, literally crawl, up and down 17 stairs every day in his own home.
Yeah, it’s f*cked, and I don’t apologise for the swear. Because it is.
We can fix this. I know we can. As an industry who respects each other. As people who are attracted to caring for others. As human beings who know that no person should be crawling around to access their own home.
Let’s get Jolly his lift. Please, if you can donate, know you’re helping change the quality of life of a person we know. A person who is so full of joy and appreciation of life, it’s like his parents had a premonition when they called him Jolly.
Donate here: Go Fund Me!
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