2023 National Stroke Awards Winners

Nicole Gallacher

Nicole Gallacher was 22 weeks pregnant when she experienced a stroke and was devastated to lose baby Ned after complications in surgery. Her recovery was tough, but with intensive rehab she learned to walk again, and is now an avid advocate for stroke awareness.

A few months ago, she and husband Dave welcomed gorgeous baby Angus Michael Andrew Gallacher into the world – named for after the health professionals and surgeon who saved her life.

Douglas Hemming

Douglas Hemming’s stroke brought an abrupt and early end to his long and successful career as a Queensland primary school teacher two years ago. As an accomplished pianist and artist, Douglas was always inspiring students academically and creatively and enjoyed interweaving music and art into his lessons. which was a huge strength in his teaching.

His stroke has impacted his ability to play the piano for now, but Douglas has found strength in creating artworks as part of his recovery. He produces at least one painting per month along with cards for sending mail to friends and relatives.

Priya Sharma

After having a stroke at the age of 25, Priya has made it her mission to promote stroke awareness, educate others and advocate for policy change by talking to local MPs and government officials as well as sharing her experience with media.

She has also pushed herself to her own physical limits and raising large sums in the attempt to empower and encourage others through fundraising in Sydney’s City2Surf, Stride4Stroke, Blackmore’s Running Festival and the Auckland Bridge Climb.

Dan Maitland

Inspired by his sister’s personal experience with stroke, Dan Maitland now has a long association with Stroke Foundation and works tirelessly to raise funds to support us and in the past three years has collectively raised almost $80,000.

He designed a fitness program called Training With Mates to specifically raise awareness about the signs of stroke, and ensure sure people know the importance of moving for at least 30 minutes per day to reduce their stroke risk. Last year 150 people from Dan’s community joined Training with Mates.

Tony Finneran

Tony Finneran has been a passionate and proactive StrokeSafe speaker since 2017 and has presented to countless communities, spreading the important F.A.S.T. and stroke prevention messages. Last year he worked with his local council’s Community Engagement team to arrange five StrokeSafe talks within local libraries for Stroke Week.

He has also been a helpful video series in which he tests out accessible and less accessible daily consumer items in the “The Good, The Bad & The Hack”. Tony has long been an active member of a huge number of Stroke Foundation councils and research groups and is an accomplished author.

Jackson King

Keep an eye out for Jackson King at the 2032 Paralympics. This 13-year-old has his eye on the prize having last year competed against the best young talent in the country at the Australian Age Swimming Championships in Adelaide.

Jackson is determined to overcome the various physical and visual challenges he’s faced his entire life after having a stroke in-utero. He’s not letting anything get in between him and his love for swimming and, in doing so, has inspired, and encouraged those around him, and even raised $1,500 for Stroke Foundation during Stride4Stroke.

Noah Barlow

Twelve-year-old Noah Barlow is a force to be reckoned with in Bacchus Marsh. Not even in his teens and he is already a fierce advocate in his community, raising awareness and educating others about stroke, and the importance of accessibility and inclusion.

Noah’s work has already prompted development of a new accessible playground at his primary school and local park. Next in his sights is improve accessibility and greater promotion of inclusion at his high school. A young man with a fantastic drive to create change in his community.

Professor Geoff Donnan AO & Professor Stephen Davis AO

Professor Stephen Davis and Professor Geoff Donnan is a team from the Department of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and an absolute force to be reckoned with.

Their mission is to reduce the catastrophic effects of stroke by providing fast accurate diagnosis ideally within the first ‘golden hour’ after stroke, and their work is behind many advances in stroke treatment over the past 20 years. That includes the Southern Hemisphere’s first stroke ambulance, which has now been operating in Melbourne for five years.

It is also their incredible vision behind the Australian Stroke Alliance, which is developing lightweight portable brain scanning technology to be fitted in road and air ambulances in future.