A champion turn: Twentyman’s back

YOUTH and homeless worker Les Twentyman inspired a 95-strong crowd at the Cardinia Cultural Centre last Thursday, as he returned to the public speaking circuit following a serious health scare.
Mr Twentyman spoke at the Cardinia Foundation lunch just four months after doctors said he was unlikely to survive severe complications that arose during a routine lap-band surgery.
He was dually supported by Father Bob Maguire, who also had some words of wisdom for the crowd.
The fund-raiser, which raised money for emergency relief provider 4Cs, was booked just before Mr Twentyman was operated on.
Surgeons uncovered a double hernia while he was on the operating table and Mr Twentyman subsequently suffered a series of infections, coming close to death on two occasions.
Cardinia Foundation chief executive Di Padgett said she almost crashed her car when she heard Mr Twentyman was in a coma.
He remained in the induced coma for 21 days and doctors wrote in his medical file that he was unlikely to survive.
On Thursday, Mr Twentyman said it was great to be back.
“It’s a bit like a first football game – I have set this in my mind,” he said.
Cardinia Foundation chairman Brian Paynter said it was humbling to be in the presence of Mr Twentyman.
“What Les sees on a daily basis, we only probably see in the movies and in the news,” he said.
“Les is a legend in the west – he’s a champion.”
Half of the proceeds from the event will benefit 4Cs, while the remainder will go towards other community projects in the shire.