Meldrum helping awareness of head injuries
Music icon Ian “Molly” Meldrum says he’s raring to get back to work but is determined to use his experience to help others at risk of head injuries, particularly footballers.
Talking on Melbourne radio station 3AW today, Meldrum told hosts Nick McCallum and Justin Smith he’s been really grateful for the overwhelming response he’s received from Australians of all ages.
He said it’s been an education having such a long recovery time.
“Not being known as a patient person I wanted to go back to work straight away,” Meldrum said.
He is also surprised at how many people have warned him to be more careful following the accident, he said.
“I live in Richmond (in Melbourne) and I go to the Richmond Plaza and people stop me and ask how I am.
“After they’ve asked me how I am, they get this stern look on their faces and even wag their fingers at me and say ’Now Molly, no more getting up ladders, under ladders - in fact forget ladders!’.”
Meldrum said he plans to meet with AFL and NRL management to express his new-found resolve to get head injuries taken more seriously, after the education he has received in their seriousness at the Epworth Hospital.
“It has frustrated me to see, because I’m a mad football fanatic you know ... where it seems to take a bit of time before someone goes down on the ground for help to arrive and sometimes the game goes on.
“I don’t think the crowd would mind at all if the game would stop for the player to get help straight away.”
Meldrum said it’s difficult for him to watch his beloved St Kilda now when collisions happen between players and someone goes down.
And in a surprise admission Meldrum revealed he’s now sworn off alcohol as part of his recovery, jokingly referring to the 70s Johnny Nash song I Can See Clearly Now.
“I can see clearly now, the vodka’s gone,” he laughed.
