Australian Legend will be wearing his support

Rugby League legend Wally Lewis has long been known as ‘the king’ through his long standing career in football, spanning 15 years. During his career on the field Wally played first grade Rugby League for Valleys, Wynnum-Manly, Wakefield Trinity, Broncos and the Gold Coast Seagulls.  However he is probably best known for representing Queensland in thirty-one State of Origin games from 1980 to 1991, and was captain for thirty of those. He also represented Australia in more than fifty international games including thirty-three test matches from 1981 to 1991 and was national team captain from 1984 to 1989.

Since retiring from the field, Wally has been a news/sports presenter on the Nine Network and an anchor with the 6 O’Clock Nine News. He has featured as a regular Rugby League announcer with Fox and as a panel member on FOX Sports NRL Rugby League Show.

Through all of Wally’s success, he has had some personal struggles and challenges, one of which was learning of his daughters hearing impairment. Jamie-Lee Lewis was  diagnosed profoundly deaf just four days after her first birthday. Wally claims he knew the moment the doctor asked to speak to him in private, and says it is a moment he will never forget.

Jamie-Lee received hearing aids at the age of 14 months, however due to ear infections she was forced to undergo numerous operations. When Jamie-Lee was 4years and 7months old, she received her first cochlear implant and started to hear the world around her.

Now 21 years old, Jamie-Lee has overcome a lot of things and is a graduate of the Hear and Say Centre. Jamie-Lee has a long list of personal and sporting achievements including a scholarship with the Queensland Academy of Sport, was named the 2009 Athlete with a disability of the Year Award, and secured back to back National Water Polo League National Championships with the Brisbane Barracudas in 2009 and 2010 just to name a few. Her goal is to represent Australia in the Deaflympics and Olympic Games.

“I’m really proud to be supporting Loud Shirt Day again in 2011,” Mr Lewis said. “The prospect of families having to face the demands of raising deaf children without the kind of support provided by these centres is just unthinkable.  I know from personal experience just how crucial these services are.”

Introducing our ‘Business Shirt Sponsor’ – Herringbone

Since its inception, with a boutique line of men’s and women’s shirts in 1997, Herringbone has established itself as an iconic Australian brand — celebrated for its classic sartorial style and unwavering commitment to quality. Herringbone offers a fully-fledged ready-to-wear collection complete with signature men’s and women’s shirts, tailored suiting, knitwear and an entire range of accessories including silk ties, cufflinks and bags.

Herringbone has ten stand alone boutiques and can be found in some of the most prestigious locations nationwide.

Distinguished by detail is the brand’s fundamental philosophy and an ideology that is honoured on every level. This is evident from the fine fabrication, such as the Egyptian cotton that is used for shirting, and the sophisticated technology employed for finishes, in the form of chevron collars, contrasting side gussets, patterned trims, as well as the French, bell, chiseled and three button cuffs.

Herringbone have recently come on board as the official business shirt sponsor for Loud Shirt Day nationally and as a part of this partnership have announced that 30% of sales on selected shirts in the Spring Summer range will be donated to First Voice. The Loud Shirt Day team could not be more pleased about the launch of this exciting collaboration!

Monique Wright encourages Australians to wear their support!

Vivacious and engaging, Monique is a cornerstone of the Seven network’s News and Current Affairs line up. Monique is best known for her work as features reporter for both Sunrise and Sunday Night. In particular her human-interest stories Monique’s “Everyday People” for Sunrise successfully capture the lives of ordinary people across Australia.

After graduating with first class honors from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Arts (Communications), Monique Wright joined the Seven Network in 1996. She has worked as a reporter and presenter on national and local programs.

Monique has an enviable record as a top Sydney journalist, covering a wide range of stories in her career. She has also worked on major broadcast events for Seven, such as William and Kate’s Royal Wedding this year, as well as every Olympic and Commonwealth Games since Sydney in 2000, The Melbourne Cup Racing Carnival and the Rugby World Cup Final in Sydney.

Monique has been on the scene, reporting on some of the biggest stories in Australia of the past decade.  She has covered emergencies, natural disasters, crime, politics and human-interest events.

Monique has worked  as a reporter on Seven’s flagship public affairs program “Sunday Night” since its inception 2 years ago and has travelled the globe bringing exclusive stories to an Australian audience.

Monique went on maternity leave last year and now has a beautiful baby boy.  She has been working during her maternity leave, reporting, news reading and most recently filling in co-hosting Weekend Sunrise for several months.

Monique has seen first hand the impact of the services from The Shepherd Centre.  5 year old Jack is the son of one of her best friends.  He was born with a hearing impairment. It is this very personal experience that has motivated Monique to become a national ambassador for Loud Shirt Day. Monique hopes to encourage Australians to show their support for deaf children by participating in Loud Shirt Day this October. All funds raised will help to give the gift of sound and speech to children like Jack.