When Major Glenn Todhunter lost his legs in a north Queensland plane crash, he was told he would never fly in the military again.
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He now holds the title of the first and only double-amputee aviator in the history of the Australian Defence Force.
On September 22, 1995, Major Todhunter was completing one of the last flights required as part of his flying instructor training when the aircraft stalled and crashed on a private airstrip, about 50 kilometres west of Townsville.
The crash happened about 10.30am, no one else was at the remote airstrip and no one was due to be there until about 5pm.
Major Todhunter and the aircraft captain Jeff Britten were critically injured in the crash.
"My right knee was bent around 180 degrees, my feet were smashed, I had a crush fracture in my L4 vertebrae and a very bad break in my right femur," Major Todhunter said.
Despite suffering severe facial lacerations, Mr Britten crawled for three hours from the crash site to the ultralight aeroclub clubhouse and phoned for help.
"It was a heroic crawl and it's the reason both of us are still there today," Major Todhunter said.
Major Todhunter spent three days on life support, before being transferred to another hospital for two months of physical recovery, followed by physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
About 10 months after the crash, he was able to walk independently once again.
However, upon returning to the ADF, where he had worked as a helicopter pilot prior to the crash, the news was not good.
"I was told: 'I’m sorry, but with a significant disability, it’s not going to be compatible with your employment'," Major Todhunter said.
The downed pilot wouldn't settle for a medical discharge and after having several conversations with military doctors and arguing his case, he embarked on an eight-year battle with the ADF.
It resulted in him being given full medical clearance to fly in the military once again in 2003.
Today, Major Todhunter works for the Royal Flying Doctor Service as a head of flight training and has been with the organisation for the past five-and-a-half years.
"I love the work that we do and the people I work with, I’m very fortunate," he said.
The history-making pilot is in Brisbane this weekend as an ambassador for the inaugural Care Expo, where he will share his story of strength and resilience, which previously saw him selected as a finalist for Queenslander of the Year.
"It's not just about aged care or disability, there's mobility aids, new technology, healthcare, mental health and information about the National Disability Insurance Scheme," he said.
"It's an opportunity for the broader south-east Queensland community to see what services are available locally, from a broad range of healthcare providers.
"I'm hoping people will take away just how much there is available to people and the broad range of community and healthcare organisations readily available in Brisbane and south-east Queensland."
The Care Expo features more than 30 guest speakers and 100 exhibitors.
It is being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 14-15 between 8.30am and 5pm. More information can be found here.
