Peter Argent, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
One-time Central Yorke Cougars junior Luke Ivens is spreading awareness of the long-term effects of concussion.
Ivens, who played 194 games for North Adelaide in the SANFL between 2000 and 2013, is now an ambassador for the Concussion Legacy Foundation Australia.
The non-profit foundation, which had its beginnings in the United States, and aims to raise awareness of concussion and advocate for individuals and their families who suffer longterm effects.
Ivens, 40, suffered multiple concussions in his career, including five in a season when he was aged 21.
“At the end of that season I was given two choices by the medical staff — wear a helmet or retire,” he said.
“The latter wasn’t an option for me, so the helmet became part of my uniform for the remainder of my career.
“I would take pride in being courageous at the contest and not taking a backward step.”
Ivens said the understanding around the risks of concussion had since grown, and he didn’t have any resentment towards those involved in his playing days. After he finished his SANFL career, Ivens played for Uraidla in the Adelaide Hills.
It was there he started to notice some issues.
“There were the obvious changes of getting slower on the field, but I was also becoming increasingly anxious, particularly in social settings,” he said.
“Over the next three years, other signs crept in, including headaches and short-term memory loss.
“Becoming frustrated and going down a rabbit hole in search of answers, my self-worth declined.
“At the lowest points, I would need to self-medicate with half a dozen drinks before going to any social event.”
Ivens, who has three children Nate, 8, Leo, 4, and 10-month-old Gus with wife Sally, was diagnosed with probable Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused in part by repeated head trauma but can only be properly diagnosed during an autopsy.
Symptoms can include memory loss, poor impulse control, impaired judgement, aggression, anxiety, depression, and eventually progressive dementia.
“I am faced with some challenges I need to manage throughout my life, but would I take it back?” Ivens said.
“Definitely not, the game gave me so much joy and lifelong friendships.
“It also played a big role in shaping the person I am today.”
With the support of family, friends, health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists, Ivens has been guided in the right direction to live a “normal”, healthy life.
Ivens has been visiting football clubs across the state, telling his story and spreading the word of the importance of correct concussion protocols and the risks involved if they are not followed.
“I’m keen get out to clubs in the country and happy tell my story as often as possible,” he said.
“In the future I would also love to set up a past players’ support system for brain injury sufferers.”
A part of his ambassador role, Ivens has organised a Team Triathlon event at the Semaphore foreshore on November 19.
“The event caters for all ages, abilities and genders — our aim is to get everyone together to support this worthy cause,” he said.
“We have engaged a number of celebrity teams including Andrew Jarman and The Rush Hour Crew, Natalie von Bertouch and the Australian Diamonds, Crows and Port legends, the Hockeyroos, Rachael Sporn and the Opals, along with a number of SANFL superstars.
“I’ll be participating in a team that includes my father and sister.”
To register, visit https://teamuptriathlon.com.
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 15 August 2023.
