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Megan McLoughlin

South Australian disability advocate and para-equestrian, named 2026 Blind Australian of the Year; first legally blind Australian to qualify for the national barrel racing finals.

Oct 24, 2026

0:59
And to be able to do it when you can't see and you're doing it at a professional level and winning competitions, I think the easiest question I've ever had to ask in my career, Megan, is how on earth do you do this?
1:11
Oh, I'm so happy you didn't ask me why.
1:13
Like many people go, why? Why would you do that? So what happened was I lost my eyesight at 26.
1:20
So fortunately for me, I had full sight for 26 years.
1:24
And I came from a family that was involved in horse racing.
1:28
horse sports and everything to do with horses for seven generations.
1:33
So my grandfather, Tom Willoughby, is in the Stockman's Hall of Fame.

15 MINS LATER

16:08
Just walk us through how people can get involved, what it means and how important this charity is.
90:16
it something that came on quick? Was it something you've always had your whole life?
90:20
No, I was born with type 1 diabetes.
90:23
So I was diagnosed at the age of 11.
90:26
And look, I grew up in country South Australia.
90:29
So it's a good thing to have that resilience that we all have built into us.
90:34
Yeah, we're hard as nails, aren't we, you and I? Yeah, we are tough.
90:37
But we sort of look at it and go, you feel like all of a sudden you've got a big flashing light above your head that you're different to everyone else.

11 MINS LATER

102:13
Just quickly on the guide dogs and the technology, I guess, that you've been able to now discover since you've lost your sight.
3:36
it something that came on quick? Was it something you've always had your whole life?
3:39
No, I was born with type 1 diabetes.
3:43
So I was diagnosed at the age of 11.
3:45
And look, I grew up in country South Australia.
3:49
So it's a good thing to have that resilience that we all have built into us.
3:54
Yeah, we're hard as nails, aren't we, you and I? Yeah, we are tough.
3:57
But we sort of look at it and go, you feel like all of a sudden you've got a big flashing light above your head that you're different to everyone else.

8 MINS LATER

11:45
So the boss, Bruce Springsteen, your horse.

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