Sam Bailey

Sam has the ability to take his audiences on an incredible journey as a motivational speaker and change the way they view their own life forever, standing ovations don’t happen often in Australia, however Sam Bailey’s story is so powerful, it lifts people to their feet. With his easy, authentic Australian style and laconic sense of humour, he shares one of the most powerful love-stories in the world.
Sam Bailey grew up on a property near Croppa Creek, North West NSW, and dreamt of spending his life on the land. But at only 19 years of age, he suffered severe spinal injuries in a car accident, making him a quadriplegic.
He was left paralysed from the chest down, with limited use of his arms and hands and intolerance to heat and cold. The medical experts told him he could no longer fulfill his childhood dream to become a farmer but he defied the odds, went home to the family farm and proved everyone wrong.
Sam Bailey learnt to ride a four wheel motor bike, which became his “legs” around the farm, devised a hoist to lift him into the farm machinery and converted tractors, the harvester, front end loader and dozer so he could drive them.
He learnt to drive a car again, travelled overseas and even tried snow skiing.
As if he hadn’t already achieved enough – he “climbed” his very own “Mount Kosciuszko” when he learnt to fly an ultralight aircraft. Only one major goal was evading him – finding a life companion. That was until an ABC Radio Rural Reporter Jenny Black came to interview him. Their friendship grew into a very special relationship; and finally Sam proposed to Jenny on live radio.
Sam Bailey has featured on ABC TV’s “Australian Story” in 2000, and again in two follow-up stories in 2004. He is now in demand as an inspirational speaker across Australia.