Don Mathewson is a true champion who shares his extraordinary story of courage, determination, a passion for athletics, and overcoming major physical challenges alongside a life of service to others.
He is a Masters track athlete who has been World Champion on three occasions across different age groups and received fifteen other medals. During his pursuit of excellence, he has completed World Masters Athletics Championships in Finland, USA, France, Brazil, Spain and Australia. As well as holding several Australian and State records across different distances, he cycles with an early morning group three days a week and supports others through several forms of volunteering.
About our Guest:
Don joined the Royal Australian Navy at sixteen in a new scheme introduced by the Navy to provide more education for sailors to handle the technology in a modern navy.
At twenty-one, he was promoted to Petty Officer. Two years later, he undertook Naval Officers training in the UK, winning the sword of honour for top candidate.
He left the RAN after twenty-one years and began a career as a Field Director with World Vision International in the South Pacific.
He became Senior Manager with a large talent management group as Senior Executive Coach.
He worked there well past retirement age and then left to undertake volunteer roles.
These include Mentoring Men, teaching English as a second language, being on the National Committee of Endeavour Foundation, a large disability support organisation and running a coffee mates group for older men.
He teaches English to speakers of other languages and is passionate about mature age fitness and health.
He has a keen interest in Politics, Climate and First Nations people and endeavours to keep across these issues through intentional reading.
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🎙️ ABOUT KINTSUGI HEROES
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Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit Australian podcast network sharing real stories of resilience, disability, and transformation.
Named after the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — the philosophy that what’s been broken can become more beautiful for the mending — every episode honours the cracks, the rebuild, and the human underneath.
📺 Series on this channel:
– Kintsugi Heroes — real stories of resilience | hosted by John Milham
– Animals & Us — the human-animal bond | hosted by Natalie Stockdale
– Grit Diaries: from Grit to Grace — stories of struggle and strength | hosted by Simone Allan & Maryan Bova
– From There to Here — navigating life’s turning points | hosted by Emma Bellamy-Dodd
– Golden Threads — stories of disability & resilience | hosted by Dan Dougherty
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