Tracey’s legacy runs on

DYLAN

news

“LOOK at tomorrow because you can’t change yesterday” is the mantra Tracey Roberts lived by as she battled the often-devastating effects of type 1 diabetes.

After years of struggling with the highs and lows of the disease, Tracey’s life’s journey sadly came to an end on 30 December 2024.

Tracey’s sister and brother-in-law Karen and Lindsay Mainey rode 58km around town during the night and then walked around the oval.

Born six weeks prematurely to Cathy and Fred Roberts of Curlewis, Tracey had a happy childhood growing up in the village with her sisters Cindy and Karen and brother Daniel.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 15, Tracey went on to complete a hairdressing apprenticeship and created her own family with children Abby and Ossie and their father Jason Rootes.

Georgia Hobson, right, and her dad Justin pictured with their medallions after walking 51 laps of the showground oval.

Tracey spent the last year of her life in the renal unit at Tamworth Hospital under the loving care of the dedicated nursing staff and doctors who quickly became her other “family”.

Tracey’s Day was born when Daniel Roberts felt driven to create more awareness about the disease and the distance country patients must travel for dialysis and treatment

Tracey’s cousin Clare Campbell-McKenzie, Darius Irvin, Kai McKenzie and his parents James McKenzie and Camila Schetz.

Described by Dan as “a bit of a crazy idea” while talking to his sister Karen when Tracey was hospitalised after having her leg amputated, Dan came up with a plan that went far beyond his original thought of running the 51km from Tamworth Hospital to Curlewis because that’s how far Tracey had to travel three times a week for treatment.

From that small seed of an idea, it was decided to “make a day of it” for anyone who might like to join

As a result of discussions with the family, the Facebook page FiftyONE Awareness was born, built on the back of conversations Dan had with Tracey during her time in hospital. Tracey said several times that when she recovered and was released from hospital, she wanted to spread awareness of diabetes to as many people as she could, particularly to young people and those living in rural and remote locations.

Gunnedah mayor Colleen Fuller OAM was on hand to draw the winning raffle ticket of a Weber BabyQ barbecue. Pictured with Tracey’s brother Dan Roberts (Brisbane), father Fred, sisters Cindy Brien (Hervey Bay), and Karen Mainey (Curlewis) and her mum Cathy Roberts.

Sadly, Tracey did not live to see her dream become a reality but when Dan Roberts grasped the baton and started running with the idea, Tracey’s dream took wings.

Gunnedah mayor Colleen Fuller attended the event and congratulated everyone involved for shining the spotlight on such an important topic and also drew the winning ticket in the competition for a BabyQ Weber barbecue.