I have worked as a journalist since the late 1980s specialising in science, information technologies and telecommunications. By 1994, I was privileged to be the media manager for the Australian Telecommunications User's Group and responsible for the public launch of the Internet in Australia. Shortly afterwards, I was fortunate to be the value added services product manager for Vodafone Australia where I was responsible for the management of the development and launch of the world's first GSM mobile Internet service. These two events catapulted my career until I returned from a business trip to the Philippines. My health began to deteriorate and I found myself fighting for my life. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

From this experience, I became acquainted with the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society of Australia (Victoria) and its many members and have been astounded at the stories they had to tell - stories that resembled those from underprivileged third world countries rather than those associated with our lucky country, Australia.

Further, as a CFS sufferer, I was able to experience the medical health system and the medical legal system first hand. It left me aghast.

In 2007, I was privileged to make a request for a CFS specialist medical and recovery centre on behalf of sufferers to the Victorian Health Minister, Daniel Andrews. Several months later, it resulted in a house being given to one of the sufferers due to their appalling individual circumstances. The request for the centre remains.

Finally, I have the support of ME/CFS Australia (Victoria) Chief Executive Officer, Penny Abrahams, and many of the CFS sufferers themselves to embark on this project given my skillset and, in particular, my understanding of their plight.