Getting married in Paris and taking off on a wild adventure with his wife, riding 6,000 kilometres around Europe, Allan Sparkes' life couldn't really have been much better. Then it all started to turn into a living hell.

Suddenly everything that was so right, started to go so wrong. Two policemen were shot dead in cold blood and Allan, with his specialist police squad teammates, had to hunt for the gunman and recover the bodies of his police colleagues. In a relatively short time afterwards, Allan was involved in the rescue of a small child who had been swept 600 metres down a flooded storm water pipe. His actions resulted in him being awarded The Cross of Valour, Australia's highest bravery decoration. The Cross of Valour has only been awarded 5 times since the award's inception in 1975.

What should have been the pinnacle of Allan's life and Police career turned into a meltdown. 20 years of front line police work finally took it's toll. Chronic P.T.S.D and depression turned his life into a living hell and suicide seemed the only option.

Choosing to try and save his life rather than take his own life, Allan drew on his inner dogged determination, the love and support of his wife and children and professional medical help to try and rebuild his mental and physical health, a career and a new life for himself and his family. Along the way, Allan was able to achieve a true life long ambition, to sail across the oceans of the world.

In 2009, Allan and his wife and two young daughters set of from England and sailed 16,000 nautical miles back to Australia, sailing across the all powerful atlantic ocean as well as the incredibly majestic pacific ocean. This is the story of these significant events in Allan's life. His story is raw, it is candid, at times emotional, at times hilarious.  From Allan's story, we can learn to accept change and look for the opportunities that it can present to us. Above all, It is moving and it is truly inspirational.  Allan teaches us that success is never final, failure is never fatal and it’s courage that counts.

Testimonials 

Click here to read a sample of testimonials that have been written about Allan's inspirational speaking.


Speakers Bureaus

Allan is listed exclusively with:

Claxton Speakers International 

Categories: Motivation - Inspiration, Health - Lifestyle and Sport.