LOSING both his legs to diabetes has done little to dampen Allan McMillan spirit as he looks to help other amputees in the region.
Mr McMillan, a Wentworth resident and volunteer for amputees organisation 'Limbs 4 Life', is looking to start a local support group for amputees in the region after finding there was no local support for him at the time of his amputation.
Mr McMillan is a bilateral below knee amputee and said a support group in Sunraysia would give aid to pre and post amputees, their families and carers.
"At the time of my amputation I was 45. I'm thinking I've lost a leg, I can't do anything, I'm useless to everyone, to my kids, I didn't want to be a burden," he said.
"Limbs 4 Life changed my whole mindset, I thought I've lost a limb but I can still do things. It's positive thinking, yes it's devastating, you've lost a limb, but it doesn't mean it is life ending,"Mr McMillan said support was severely lacking in the regions with the closest groups in Melbourne and Adelaide.
"There is nothing here in Sunraysia," he said. "I wouldn't even be able to tell you how many people here are amputees.
"There is no permanent prosthetic technicians here. I have to get all my work done in Adelaide.
"I know the crew in Melbourne are all for getting a group started, but they need to find out numbers before they can do it, they are willing to hold a seminar here with the health sector to let people know there are supports out there."
Mr McMillan said he had the idea for the group after recently travelling to Melbourne for the AMP-ED up conference.
"In February we had an amputee conference which showcased avenues for support, peer support especially," he said.
"They had some fascinating speakers plus the companies that supply all the artificial limbs were there with the new technology, I found out what is out there for amputees."
Mr McMillan said through this group he hoped to "give amputees reassurance that they aren't alone".
"I just want to get the message out that there are supports out there if I haven't got the answers for the person I will get on contact with my group in Melbourne," he said.
Mr McMillan invited anyone interested in being part of the group to contact him via his Facebook.
