Stacey's A Fighter And That's No Bull

Newcastle Herald

Monday March 22, 1999

Linda Barnier

TWO days before the anniversary of a fall that resulted in serious brain injury, miracle girl Stacey Hardes is back in the saddle.

Riding into the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on a Brahman bull, Stacey took part in the grand entry of the Australasian Professional Bull-riding Finals held at the weekend.

On March 22 last year Stacey, a champion equestrian rider, had a serious fall from a horse while taking a jump.

The horse rolled over her and left her with extensive brain trauma.

Doctors did not think she would survive her first night in John Hunter Hospital's intensive care unit.

Her condition was similar to a coma and she could neither walk nor speak.

During her lengthy hospital stay, she was visited by champion bull riders Brad Scott and Steve Thorne, a bull named ET and rodeo clown Ian Bowstock.

Stacey's recovery has stunned medical experts and the 12-year-old, from Lansdowne near Taree, was part of this year's bull-riding finals main parade, riding ET while the national anthem was played.

The finals saw Australia's top 40 cowboys competing for a total of $20,000 prize. ? Linda Barnier