Now the trip is done...
10 April 2021
Hi everyone,
Brendan arrived back from his trip last night, and we would like to update you on how it all went. I thought one of the best ways to do that would be through a small speech Brendan made on the boat on Thursday night. Each evening after dinner the team would gather and share their highs and lows for the day. This is what Brendan had to say:
"Because I slept through the introductions on the first night I thought I'd better make my highs and lows pretty decent tonight, and probably introduce myself and provide some background and information on myself to try help you all somewhat understand why I complain more than a Karen at Kmart, and why I'm more negative than anyone ever should be.
My name is Brendan Austin and I have probably been through more heart wrenching, traumatic life experiences than anyone should ever go through, and most of it before Monkey Scrotum turned up to the shit show 🙄
I was diagnosed with MS in May last year after the whole left side of my body went numb, head to toe. I had 2 more relapses over the next couple months which resulted in me losing my sight almost completely both times; by this time I was starting too wish I had cancer because at least then they'd be able to remove it or treat it 🙄
It's still very fresh for me in a way, and I am grieving for my previous life which mostly involved crazy shit and dangerous occupations such as heavy machinery work in the forest and biohazardous cleaning and pest control. Because of MS and the nature of these positions it was just too dangerous for me and others so I was forced into very early retirement. I miss the excitement and the money very much 😕
I have 2 children, Bentley is the eldest, is nearly 8, and is the best thing to come out of getting married too young to someone I had nothing in common with - She got the house I got my car 🤣
My daughter's name is Sienna, and she will be 2 in August. She is my angel and lights up the darkness that surrounds my life a lot now.
My partners name is Candice and she is from Adelaide. We met on Tinder nearly 4 years ago and luckily enough as it turned out she was keen on me despite the excessive baggage I carried. She has really been amazing over the last year taking care of our daughter and a shadow of the guy she fell in love with a couple years prior. I owe her my life and she not only keeps the house running but she also manages to take care of my useless cynical ass everyday too.
I have had to stop driving due to the decline in my eyesight, so I had to sell my beloved 32yo Skyline a few weeks ago which I'd owned for over 11years and spent 50 grand on doing it up and keeping road legal. Having it and not being able to either drive it or fix it anymore was just terrible and too hard to bear.
So here I am in this moment and that's me in a nutshell, I wear my heart on the outside and I speak my feelings sometimes with reckless abandon, I apologize if I have offended or upset any of you wonderful people over the last few days and thank you from my heart to those of you that took a moment to talk with me and see through the negative shit that comes out of my mouth, and attempt to get to know the guy behind that facade.
On this trip there have been no Lows, only Highs for me. Each and every single one of you is just fantastic and I really admire you all for your strength and resilience against this bullshit that we all unfortunately share. I hope that I too can get to a point where I am as strong and determined as you all in the future.
It has truly been inspiring to see the things that you all are capable of despite this condition.
To [the crew], thank you for not Keel Hauling me and leaving on some desert island this week 🙄 Your patience and tolerance has no doubt been well tested by me since we left the viaduct on Monday. We may never see each other again but thank you for putting up with my shit and showing me and the rest of us the type of love and compassion you get from family; All 5 of you are just fantastic people and are a priceless asset to the trust you work for and represent, and I'm sure anyone that's ever spent time with any of you is better for it.
To Steinlager 2, this magnificent 84-foot, round-the-world-winning vessel, thank you for inspiring me and giving me some ideas towards a new purpose in my life. I can feel the history and the power of this yacht, and will always remember and cherish this week, for empowering me to move forward and strive to find purpose again.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart all of you ♥"
The organisers of this trip are now looking to work with Brendan and MSNZ to start a program where Brendan can be available for motivational speaking or support work for those newly diagnosed, as they noticed how the other men on the boat approached and opened upto Brendan after the above speech.
We are both very excited about this prospect and are infinitly grateful to everyone who donated to or shared this page.
Thank you.