Dreams Worth Jumping For

Wednesday, November 29th 2023

Dreams Worth Jumping For

Fearless in her pursuit for adrenaline, Gold Coast local, Marlena Katene has used her influence to help alter perceptions of disabilities within her community, all whilst living out her dreams.

Marlena Katene's Inspiring Plate Story

Video description	BERT sits next to MARLENA, who is in a wheelchair. Behind them, the wall is covered with framed photographs of MARLENA and famous people. MARLENA listens to BERT as he talks. She makes vocal noises but is non-verbal. Their names appear on the screen: the woman’s name is MARLENA Katene and man’s name is BERT Hibbert.
BERT	The sky is not the limit. No, what is it? Hang on, got to think of it now. The sky one.
Video description	MARLENA bends over to use a communication assistance device in her lap while BERT holds her hand to help her.
BERT	The sky’s not the limit, there are footprints on the moon, aren't there?
Video description	MARLENA looks up and nods, while the man reads out what she has written.
Video description	MIKE Briggs, wearing a red t-shirt with an iFLY logo on it, stands up from kneeling and as the shot widens, we see that he is in the iFLY facility with MARLENA and another woman in the background.
MIKE	Marlena is a very interesting character.
Video description	MIKE talking to camera. There are posters on the wall behind, advertising the services of his business. He is still in the iFLY facility.
MIKE	She has done quite a few awesome things in her time, like base jumping for example.
Video description	In a Go-Pro styled action video, from the viewpoint of a person assisting, a person wearing a helmet just in front is getting ready to jump off a high building with a parachute. The person jumps and we see they are in tandem, jumping with a second person: MARLENA. The parachute opens after the pair jump off the building. City skyscrapers can be seen in the background. Other people with parachutes and helmets stand on the building waiting to jump.
MIKE	Most people in the world would never go base jumping. So, someone who's living with the condition she is, and in the wheelchair and stuff for her to go and do something like this, it’s pretty awesome.
Video description	MIKE talks to camera.
MIKE	So, it's inspiring for us to have someone like that come into the facility and want to take part in what we're doing.
Video description	MARLENA is sitting at a table wearing blue overalls smiling and laughing with others. Orange helmets sit on the table. There is another lady also sitting at the table.
Video description	In the original view with the framed photographs on the wall behind them, MARLENA leans over her communication assistance device and makes pressing actions. BERT watches over her shoulder with a smile. MARLENA looks up and smiles.
Audio description	In a synthetic voice, we hear ‘My name is MARLENA Katene, I am 28 years old.’
Video description	Cut to the iFLY facility. MARLENA sits in in her wheelchair wearing a full-face helmet and overalls. She drives the wheelchair around the room. There are chairs and other people in the background.
Video description	In the original view with the framed photographs on the wall behind them, BERT is looking over MARLENA’s shoulder at what she has written on her communication device. He reads out her words.
BERT: MARLENA JUST SAID	‘I love the feeling of jumping. It gives me a sense of freedom.’ Having cerebral palsy she can't necessarily always control her body.
Video description	MARLENA looks towards the camera.
BERT	But jumping, whether it be from a plane or iFly, it gives her that sense of weightlessness, freedom, control.
Video description	MARLENA is dressed in blue overalls with an orange helmet and a broad grin on her face. She is flying weightless in an indoor skydiving facility. She is stretched out, face towards the ground, with two people standing next to her, holding her.
BERT	And control’s not a word that's associated, especially with a disability such as cerebral palsy.
Video description	MARLENA is smiling as two people control her body, while dropping down and floating up during an indoor skydive in a room with clear glass walls. Other people are watching from outside the room.
Video description	Sitting next to BERT and with his help, MARLENA taps on her communication device and speaks what she has written.
BERT	‘I was encouraged to find something new after skydiving 20 times’ and I encouraged her to look for something. I encouraged MARLENA to do her first skydive. So base jumping was the next level.
Video description	MARLENA smiles and looks at BERT.
Video description	In the iFLY facility: slow shot of MARLENA in her chair and BERT turning her chair around. MARLENA smiles.
Video description	In the original view with the framed photographs on the wall behind them, BERT and MARLENE talk to camera.
BERT	I met MARLENA when she was two, and MARLENA is 28 now, so over the years she's taught me a lot. Taught me a lot about life in general. So, when it came to MARLENA going through that post school transition, it was exciting for me to see that she was taking her baby steps in school to make real money, have a real job rather than relying on other people for certain things. So, I was happy to do the physical support required to run a jumping castle when she was younger. It's exciting that she invested in her own future even back then.
Video description	MARLENA and BERT are in a shop. MARLENA is in her wheelchair and her friend is riding on the back of the chair. They spin around in slow motion and MARLENA is smiling.
Video description	MARLENA looks at her friend.
Video description	A close-up shows music memorabilia such as autographed tickets and VIP passes. MARLENA taps on her communication device while BERT helps her.
Audio description	BERT mumbles whilst assisting MARLENA
Video description	A slow camera move across a display case shows microphones with autographs written on the side of them.
BERT	It started locally, interviewing smaller bands, local bands at local venues while she was at University, and then it grew from there.
Video description	MARLENA taps on her communication device while Bert helps her.
BERT	Met... a... few... people... overseas and got their details... So she also met a few people overseas. Literally ran into NELLY.
Video description	BERT turns and points to an autographed photo of Nelly leaning into MARLENA on the wall behind him. Close up of the autographed photo of MARLENA and NELLY.
BERT	That was in New York. Literally ran into him in the street.
Video description	Close up of another autographed photo of MARLENA with RICKY MARTIN bending over to pose for the photo with MARLENA is shown.
BERT	That was RICKY MARTIN when he was in New York. Just doing Broadway over there.
Video description	BERT talks to camera, smiles and looks at MARLENA admiringly. A close up is shown of BERT and MARLENA using the ABC communication board to pick out letters and numbers. A photo is shown of MARLENA surrounded by famous people while she is sitting in her chair with the ABC communication device in her lap.
BERT	So, MARLENA had the guts to turn around and ask the people, just hey I’m an upcoming music journalist. I use an iPad or ABC board to communicate.
Video description	More photographs of MARLENA and famous people are shown.
BERT	So MARLENA got her first personalised plate given to her for a birthday present which was her name ‘MARLENA’ on her car.
Video description	Close-up of a black number plate with hot pink letters that reads MARLENA.
BERT	And she wanted to get one for her work ute...
Video description	A chrome wheel is shown on a green ute, panning across to a close up of a number plate which reads I “HEART” 2JUMP.
BERT	...to tidy up the business and make it look a little bit more...
Video description	Wider shot of the green ute with the number plate I “HEART” 2JUMP on the front.
BERT	...and the plates fitted for her personality - base jump, skydiving, jumping castles. Perfect plate for you.
Video description	Outside, MARLENA sits in her wheelchair and reaches out to touch her work ute. BERT stands on the back of her wheelchair. MARLENA is smiling.
Video description	Final close-up shot of the front of the green ute, with the I “HEART” 2JUMP number plate on the front.
Video description	MARLENA is shown flying across the screen in the indoor skydiving facility wearing blue overalls and orange helmet. White text appears over the footage of MARLENA enjoying the skydive. The text reads: Each and every one of us is unique and has a story to tell. Celebrate who you are. Here’s to you. The PPQ.com.au logo fades onto screen and then fades to black. Additional white text fades onto scree. It reads: Each and every one of us is unique which is what makes Queenslander’s so special. Plates commemorate and celebrate who we are.

Living with cerebral palsy, Marlena is breaking the mould and isn't letting anything get in her way of pursuing her dreams.

Through her love of skydiving and base jumping, passion for music journalism and success in owning her own small-business, 28-year-old Marlena has broken numerous stereotypes faced in her everyday life.

After Marlena's best friend and business partner Bert Hibbert inspired her to try skydiving for the first time in 2013, Marlena was hooked on jumping and her love for the adrenaline-fuelled hobby grew from there.

Originally stepping out of her comfort zone and rising to the challenge for her first jump, Marlena skydived a further twenty times before seeking out a new challenge.

In her search for something epic, Marlena came across base jumping and in 2016 she became the first person with cerebral palsy to base jump.

With her world record breaking jump taking place at Kuala Lumpur Tower, a 421-metre structure in the heart of Malaysia’s capital city, Marlena has proven she can do anything she sets her mind to.

In an attempt to re-create the exhilarating feeling that jumping provides, a little closer to home, Marlena now regularly visits iFly Gold Coast, an indoor skydiving centre that simulates a true free-fall experience in a vertical wind tunnel.

Marlena can often be found flying in the wind tunnels with iFly instructors who are passionate about supporting her dreams.

“It's inspiring for us to have someone like Marlena come into the facility and take part in what we are doing,” Gold Coast iFly instructor and coach Mike Briggs said.

Marlena described the experience of jumping as a feeling she had never experienced before.

“Having cerebral palsy, I can't always control my body but jumping, whether it's from a plane or at iFly, gives me a sense of weightlessness, freedom and control,” Marlena explained.

After watching her school friends all get their first part time jobs, Marlena looked for a creative way she could earn an income.

In 2007 when Marlena was just 15 years old, she purchased a jumping castle business - Burleigh Bouncers, and continues to run the successful business today.

Whilst Marlena wasn't able to carry out some of the physical aspects associated with running the business, she had support from her business partner, Bert Hibbert, who was willing to assist wherever he could.

“I was happy to support Marlena with the physical elements required to run Burleigh Bouncers as it was exciting that she was making an investment into her future,” Bert said.

In line with her journalism major and passion for music journalism, during her time studying at Griffith University, Marlena started interviewing local bands and artists at local venues.

Since graduating university in 2014, Marlena has had the pleasure of interviewing A-list celebrities, such as Boy George, Gang of Youth, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Russell Brand, just to name a few.

Marlena has also crossed paths and rubbed shoulders with other notable celebrities, including Nelly, Ricky Martian, Ed Sheeran, the Delhi Llama and the Pope.

Marlena's impressive track record flaunting her interview skills and her determination to excel underpins her rising success as a music journalist and most notably, numerous personal invitations to the Aria Awards.

Marlena received her first set of plates, spelling her name out loud and proud, MARLENA, as a birthday present which are fitted on her specially modified dark blue Mercedes-Benz V250 Wagon.

Marlena says her Black Flexi with Pink writing adds something special to her everyday vehicle.

With the Burleigh Bouncers business growing every year, Marlena and her business partner Bert, required a Ute in order to easily transport the jumping castles and any additional equipment in the tray back.

After purchasing their bright green Holden Commodore Ute for the business, Marlena looked for a personalised plate that would perfectly reflect the business and her personality.

With base jumping, skydiving and jumping castles, the act of 'jumping' shines bright through Marlena's list hobbies and ventures, therefore, I <3 2JUMP was the perfect plate for Marlena.

“The plates fitted her personality perfectly,” Bert explained.

To add to Marlena's outstanding resume, she has also published a coffee table book “Dare To Be You” with friend Jessica Irwin.

Her incredible list of achievements and fearless 'go getter' attitude continuously breaking stereotypical barriers, Marlena is an inspiration to many.

Her determination to prove that nothing can stop her from achieving her dreams has been at the forefront of all of her achievements thus far.

In the words of Marlena herself, “The sky's not the limit, there are footprints on the moon aren't there?”

Follow Marlena's journey.

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Dreams Worth Jumping For

Dreams Worth Jumping For

Marlena Katene's Inspiring Plate Story

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