Wendy Carlisle

Nov 7, 2024 | terrain.org | Wendy Carlisle

Ghost PipeFlowers rooted in mushrooms rise from dead leaves,they open like periscopes breaking the ocean’s meniscusto spy the perfect spot to strike disaster. It’s pastelection day, past the Blood Moon eclipse and weare the shrapnel of something that happenedso long ago we’ve lost the origin. The ghost pipes’ bowed white heads startle hikers,spook even the chipmunks from trampling them. By fall they’re dark and erect as a middle finger.

Sep 19, 2024 | theaustralian.com.au | Jessica Halloran |Wendy Carlisle

Rugby league rookie Keith Titmuss had the brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy when he died aged 20 – the youngest Australian sport player to be diagnosed with the fatal condition related to repeated head knocks. The diagnosis – made after Titmuss died of exertional heat stroke following a 2020 Manly Sea Eagles training session and until now not disclosed – has sparked warnings the major football codes are not doing enough to protect young athletes.

Aug 30, 2024 | thesaturdaypaper.com.au | Wendy Carlisle

A core member of the NRL’s concussion research group is also one of the most outspoken critics of the link between repeated head injury in sport and the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Dr Rudy Castellani, a professor of pathology at the United States’ Northwestern University, says CTE is an “invented disease … conjured out of thin air” by scientists at Boston University’s CTE Center.

Sep 12, 2023 | theaustralian.com.au | Wendy Carlisle |Jessica Halloran

Anita Frawley, the widow of St Kilda great Danny Frawley, has revealed her family’s trauma since her future son-in-law and Melbourne defender Angus Brayshaw was knocked out during a sickening clash at the MCG that has reignited the debate over concussion in sport – calling for the AFL to ensure protecting athletes’ brains was “sacrosanct”. It’s four years ago this week that her husband Danny Frawley took his own life.

Jul 30, 2023 | theaustralian.com.au | Jessica Halloran |Wendy Carlisle

Leading sports neurologist Rowena Mobbs has revealed she is treating more than 40 rugby league players for brain injuries, as Queensland great Wally Lewis becomes the fourth of just 13 Immortals to be ­diagnosed with dementia. Pressure is growing on the NRL to deal with the CTE crisis enveloping the game after the Queensland Origin great revealed his diagnosis of early onset dementia, which has been linked to his decorated football career.