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A crowning achievement

WINNING just one medal in an eisteddfod is quite an achievement.

Taking out a first, a second and a highly commended is remarkable. But taking home eight firsts on top of that is outstanding. It’s also a lot of medals.

Even more extraordinary is achieving all that while battling chronic pain on a daily basis.

Psy Broom is that extraordinary human. Coping with a catalogue of almost unpronounceable chronic illnesses no one should ever have to deal with, let alone someone in their early twenties, Psy’s resilience in the face of it all is almost superhuman.

Despite it, they’ve taken home that stash of awards from both the Warrnambool and the Hamilton Eisteddfods.

First diagnosed with their first chronic illness at about the age of six, Psy went on to develop many others throughout their teenage years, one building on top of the other. One issue, lactose intolerance, is the least of their problems. And Psy manages all of it with “a lot of willpower”.

The occasional ice-cream helps too, Psy laughed. “Lactose intolerance is not anaphylaxis, it’s just an intolerance. It doesn’t make me feel too good but sometimes it’s (so) worth it!”

Clearly someone who knows how to choose their battles, Psy takes a “whole bunch of medications” that they refer to as their “chronic illness cereal”. Having a sense of humour is another string to their resilience bow.

For exercise, Psy takes classes at DanceXtensions. “I can’t go to the gym, and the creative expression (of dance theatre) helps with the chronic pain, but you do have to keep exercising or it gets worse.”

Having to endure so much since childhood meant Psy’s attendance at school was patchy.

Born in England but attending school in Portland since the age of five, Psy’s primary schooling was constant. For secondary college, however, they attended a couple of high schools, with some time at Bayview College before ending up at Virtual School Victoria (VSV), after their health “took a turn for the worst”.

It was VSV which ultimately enabled Psy to attain their VCE. “It was a godsend – I don’t know what I would have done without it because I just couldn’t attend mainstream school; I was just too sick.”

But it was a teacher at primary school who helped Psy discover something that has become their main reason to get out of bed every day: acting and writing.

“I had a great teacher in primary school; Steve Gollasch, who produced the movie Llewellyn Unlikely, filmed and set in Portland.

“He was very supportive of my creative visions (and) very much fostered my interest in writing.”

Now, Psy is a prolific writer, playwright and actor who is attempting their first novel. They’ve also just added multi-eisteddfod award-winner to their list of achievements.

Psy’s first great success came early when, aged only 14, they wrote a full-length Christmas play for their local church.

“I decided to do a creative version of the Bible Christmas story, mixed with Dr Who. It was called Bible Travel and it was basically about two characters who end up with this eccentric kind of doctor…I think it’s one of my best works, in a way.”

Back then, Psy was known as Elizabeth, but at the age of 18 changed their name and started using they/them pronouns. “I felt it suited me more … and it’s a lot shorter, too!” they laughed.

“It also changed my perception of myself, in a good way.” And being able to play with perception is why Psy is able focus on their great love of acting.

“Acting is a good distraction,” they said. “Sometimes when (you’re in) a lot of pain…you just need a distraction.

“It is also a creative outlet. For me, it’s helpful because – even if it’s just for five minutes – I don’t have to be the person who’s suffering, who’s in pain, who needs to go to doctors’ appointments all the time…or (any of) those things,” Psy said.

“I just get to be someone else for a bit. And in the same way I love my writing as well – it’s not just being in the book – I don’t have to be in my world, I get to be in someone else’s world.”

Psy’s decision to enter both the Hamilton and Warrnambool eisteddfods, after several years away from it, was based on that.  

“I first entered an eisteddfod (when I was) about 15 while at Virtual School… and I decided I really wanted to do that again, because in Portland, apart from CEMA or if you’re at (college) there’s not a lot of opportunities (for creative expression).

Psy took on a range of acting, writing, and singing challenges for the eisteddfods, including a reading of one of their own poems, My Pronouns are Pain and Suffering, about their experience with chronic pain.

Ultimately, Psy went home dripping with medals, including winner for monologue solo; winner for Reading in Two parts; and winner for Poem Written by Competitor.

Psy urges anyone, especially adults, with a passion for dancing, singing, acting, reading out loud, speech and debate, or music, among others, to enter.

“A lot of people think eisteddfods are just for school aged kids but they’re really not. They definitely encourage adults to come and just have a go.

“It’s so much fun and …there are people there who are willing to listen to you. So, absolutely have a go if you have a passion for it. Even if you don’t win, it’s an experience.

“And sometimes, you come out with medals!”

Psy is appearing in the CEMA production of Neighbourhood Watch, showing at the Portland Arts Centre from July 27–30. Details via PAC or in the July 14 issue of the Observer.

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