By Belinda Nolan
WHEN Renee Biewer lost her leg in a motorbike accident she could have given up on life.
Instead, she chose to make every second count.
Fourteen years later and the story of the St Albans resident is inspiring others to believe they can achieve whatever they put their minds to.
The 37-year-old’s life will be featured in a new exhibition celebrating the experiences of Brimbank residents.
Funded by the council, the video and photographic exhibition highlights the stories of people living and working in St Albans, Kealba and Kings Park.
The exhibition aims to explore the diversity of the suburbs’ population and the strong sense of connection and community pride residents feel in their neighbourhood.
Ms Biewer has spent her life in St Albans, but it was only after her leg was amputated that she became aware of the plight suffered by people with a disability.
The then 23-year-old had no idea her leg had been amputated until she woke up in hospital and noticed a stump.
“It was a bit of a shock,” Ms Biewer said.
“But my mum snapped me out of it pretty quickly.
“I said what am I going to do now, I’ve lost my leg and she looked at me and said: ‘what aren’t you going to do now?’”.
“Those words have stuck with and made me realise there is no limit to what I can achieve.”
Although confined to a wheelchair, Ms Biewer manages to make her mark on the St Albans community.
She was a founding member of the Brimbank Disability Network and remains an active advocate for the rights of people with a disability.
Despite her activism, Ms Biewer said she was shocked to be featured in the exhibition.
“To me, it’s an absolute honour,” she said.
“I feel like I’m a part of history and I’m so proud.
“I hope it does inspire other people with a disability to realise the sky really is the limit.”
The Trade to Place exhibition will be launched between 6-8pm tomorrow at the St Albans Library.
It will be tour around Brimbank until August.
