DIAGNOSED with a terminal cancer at only 11 months of age, Michael Crossland went on to not only defy his death sentence, but play professional baseball in the United States, have a satisfying corporate career, and rally against other challenges - a life that provided many moving and inspiring stories to students, families and staff at The Armidale School's annual speech day last week.
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"It's not the adversity you face that determines the quality of your life, but how you deal with that adversity - it's how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up again," the National Ambassador for Camp Quality, Australian of the Year finalist and Australia Day ambassador said.
Mr Crossland's remarkable story was the subject of an episode on ABC TV's Australian Story which outlined how he overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve success in both his personal and professional life.
He told the gathering he was the only one of more than 20 children who lived after an experimental drug trial;
"I wasn't one of the lucky ones because I survived, I was the lucky one because I wasn't my mum who had to inject me with the drug," he said.
Mr Crossland urged students to dream big.
"When you are educated you have the ability to dream, and when you have the ability to dream you can achieve some amazing things."
"We complain about things every day, but there's an old saying that I always remember - 'I used to complain about having no shoes, and then I met a man with no feet'.
"So many people quit because they look at how far they've got to go, not how far they've come. You all have the opportunity to live a remarkable life, so just go and do it," he said.
In his address, headmaster Murray Guest reflected on the school's historic decision to go to co-ed.
"As varied as the community responses to the coeducation issue were, the board had good affirmation for their role in making the decision, not just from the staff, but from some of our most important supporters," Mr Guest said.
"At the beginning of next year we expect to have at least 40 girls in middle and senior school, with the bulk being in years nine to 12 and including the four year 12 girls who led the way as they began their HSC with us at the start of term four.
"This number includes 15 boarders coming from places far and wide, and the ongoing stream of enquiries gives strong indication that numbers will continue to grow into next year.
"Over half the new girls come from government, catholic and other schools outside Armidale and our hope that the move to co-education would increase the number of girls in independent schools in Armidale should certainly be realised in 2016.
"This commitment to maintain and build on what is good at TAS is at the cornerstone of our understanding of our future."
